Section 324.63537 - Fines and imprisonment(1) The department may impose an administrative fine against a permittee or other person who violates a permit condition or a provision of this part. If the department issues a cease and desist order with respect to a violation, an administrative fine shall be assessed. An administrative fine shall not exceed $5,000.00 for each violation, except that each day a violation continues may be considered a separate violation. In determining the amount of the administrative fine, the department shall consider the permittee's history of previous violations at the particular surface coal mining operation; the seriousness of the violation, including any pollution, impairment, or destruction to the environment and any hazard to the health or safety of the public; whether the permittee or person was indifferent or lacked diligence or reasonable care; and the demonstrated good faith of the permittee or person charged in attempting to achieve compliance after notification of the violation.(2) An administrative fine shall be assessed only after the person charged with a violation described under subsection (1) has been given an opportunity for a public hearing. A hearing conducted under this section shall be conducted pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, Act No. 306 of the Public Acts of 1969, being sections 24.201 to 24.328 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.(3) The department shall inform the permittee and any other person charged within 30 days after the issuance of a notice or order charging that a violation of this part has occurred of the proposed amount of the administrative fine. The person charged with the violation then has 30 days to pay the proposed fine in full or, if the person wishes to contest either the amount of the fine or the fact of the violation, forward the proposed amount to the department for placement in an escrow account. If, through administrative or judicial review of the proposed fine, it is determined that a violation did not occur or that the amount of the fine should be reduced, the department, within 30 days, shall remit the appropriate amount to the person with interest at 12% per year. Failure to forward the money to the department within 30 days after the issuance of the notice or order will result in a waiver of all legal rights to contest the violation or the amount of the fine.(4) An administrative fine imposed under this part may be recovered in a civil action brought by the attorney general at the request of the department.(5) A person who willfully and knowingly violates a condition of a permit issued pursuant to this part or fails or refuses to comply with an order issued under this part, or an order incorporated in a final decision issued by the department under this part, except an order incorporated in a decision issued under subsection (2) or section 63541, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both.(6) A permittee or person who fails to correct a violation for which a notice or order has been issued under subsection (1) within the period permitted for its correction, which period shall not end until the entry of a final order by the department, in the case of any review proceedings initiated by the permittee in which the department orders the suspension of the abatement requirements of the notice or order after determining that the permittee will suffer irreparable loss or damage from the application of those requirements, or until the entry of an order of the court, in the case of any review proceedings initiated by the permittee in which the court orders the suspension of an abatement requirement of the citation, shall be assessed a civil fine of not less than $750.00 for each day during which the failure or violation continues.(7) If a corporate permittee or person violates a condition of a permit issued pursuant to a state program under section 63524 or fails or refuses to comply with any order issued under section 63539, or any order incorporated in a final decision issued by the department under this part, except an order incorporated in a decision issued under subsection (2), then a director, officer, or agent of the corporation who willfully and knowingly authorized, ordered, or carried out the violation, failure, or refusal is subject to the same fines and imprisonment that may be imposed on a person under subsections (1) and (5).(8) A person who knowingly makes a false statement, representation, or certification, or who knowingly fails to make a statement, representation, or certification in an application, record, report, or other document filed or required to be maintained pursuant to a state program or this part or any order of decision issued by the department under this part, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both.Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. 5/24/1995.