C.R.S. Section 25-8-608
Civil penalties

  • rules
  • fund created
  • temporary moratorium on penalties for minor violations
  • definitions
  • repeal

(1)

A person who violates this article 8, a permit issued under this article 8, a control regulation promulgated pursuant to this article 8, or a final cease-and-desist order or clean-up order is subject to a civil penalty of not more than fifty-four thousand eight hundred thirty-three dollars per day per violation; except that, on or before December 31, 2021, the commission shall, by rule, annually adjust the amount of the maximum civil penalty based on the percentage change in the United States department of labor’s bureau of labor statistics consumer price index for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood for all items and all urban consumers, or its successor index. In determining the amount of a penalty under this part 6, the following factors shall be considered:

(a)

The potential damage from the violation;

(b)

The violator’s compliance history;

(c)

Whether the violation was intentional, reckless, or negligent;

(d)

The impact upon or threat to the public health or environment as a result of the violation;

(e)

The duration of the violation; and

(f)

The economic benefit realized by the violator as a result of the violation.

(1.5)

All penalties collected pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the water quality improvement fund, which is hereby created. The moneys in such fund shall be subject to annual appropriation. Any interest earned on moneys in the fund shall remain in the fund to be used for purposes of this section.

(1.7)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The department shall expend moneys in the water quality improvement fund for the following purposes:

(I)

Improving the water quality in the community or water body impacted by the violation;

(II)

Providing grants for storm water projects or to assist with planning, design, construction, or repair of domestic wastewater treatment works;

(III)

Providing the nonfederal match funding for nonpoint source projects under 33 U.S.C. sec. 1329; or

(IV)

Providing grants for storm water management training and best practices training to prevent or reduce the pollution of state waters.

(b)

The division may retain five percent of the moneys in the water quality improvement fund to cover the cost of administering the projects or grants under paragraph (a) of this subsection (1.7).

(c)

The commission shall promulgate rules as may be necessary to administer this subsection (1.7), including, but not limited to, rules defining who is eligible for grants, and what criteria shall be used in awarding grants. Any rules shall be promulgated in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S.

(d)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

If there is money still available after fully funding all purposes specified in subsection (1.7)(a) of this section, the department shall expend the following amounts:

(A)

Up to three hundred thousand dollars for fiscal year 2017-18, three hundred thousand dollars for fiscal year 2018-19, and three hundred thousand dollars for fiscal year 2019-20 for grants for lead testing as authorized by the public school lead testing grant program established in section 25-1.5-203 (1)(f); and

(B)

One hundred forty thousand dollars for fiscal year 2017-18, one hundred thousand dollars for fiscal year 2018-19, and one hundred thousand dollars for fiscal year 2019-20 to implement the public school lead testing grant program established in section 25-1.5-203 (1)(f), including technical support for schools, grant administration, and reporting.

(II)

This subsection (1.7)(d) is repealed, effective September 1, 2025.

(1.8)

Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (1.5) or (1.7) of this section to the contrary, on April 20, 2009, the state treasurer shall deduct seven hundred thousand dollars from the water quality improvement fund and transfer such sum to the general fund.

(1.9)

The division shall include in a separate section of the annual report required pursuant to section 25-8-305 a full accounting of all projects funded pursuant to this section for the preceding year.

(2)

The division may institute a civil action or administrative action to impose and collect penalties under this section. Upon application of the division, penalties shall be determined by the executive director or his or her designee. The final decision of the executive director or his or her designee may be appealed to the commission. The final decision of the commission is subject to judicial review in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S. Any penalty may be collected by the division by action instituted in a court of competent jurisdiction for collection of such penalty. A stay of any order of the division pending judicial review shall not relieve any person from any liability under subsection (1) of this section, but the reason for the request for judicial review shall be considered in the determination of the amount of the penalty. In the event that such an action is instituted for the collection of such penalty, the court may consider the appropriateness of the amount of the penalty, if such issue is raised by the party against whom the penalty was assessed.

(3)

to (5) Repealed.

Source: Section 25-8-608 — Civil penalties - rules - fund created - temporary moratorium on penalties for minor violations - definitions - repeal, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-25.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

25‑8‑101
Short title
25‑8‑102
Legislative declaration
25‑8‑103
Definitions
25‑8‑104
Interpretation and construction of water quality provisions
25‑8‑105
Regional wastewater management plans - amendments
25‑8‑201
Water quality control commission created
25‑8‑202
Duties of commission - rules
25‑8‑203
Classification of state waters
25‑8‑204
Water quality standards
25‑8‑205
Control regulations
25‑8‑205.3
Exemption from control regulations for graywater research - definition
25‑8‑205.5
Pollution from agricultural chemicals - rules
25‑8‑205.7
Control regulations for reuse of reclaimed domestic wastewater - food crops - definitions - rules
25‑8‑205.8
Control regulations for reuse of reclaimed domestic wastewater - toilet flushing - definitions - rules
25‑8‑205.9
Control regulations for reuse of reclaimed domestic wastewater - industrial hemp - definitions - rules
25‑8‑206
Prior acts validated
25‑8‑207
Review of classifications and standards
25‑8‑208
Emergency rule-making
25‑8‑209
Water quality designations - rules
25‑8‑210
Fees established administratively - rules - stakeholding requirement - phase-in period - clean water cash fund - creation - repeal
25‑8‑301
Administration of water quality control programs
25‑8‑302
Duties of division
25‑8‑303
Monitoring
25‑8‑304
Monitoring, recording, and reporting
25‑8‑305
Annual report - repeal
25‑8‑306
Authority to enter and inspect premises and records
25‑8‑307
Emergencies
25‑8‑308
Additional authority and duties of division - penalties
25‑8‑310
Education program - storm water
25‑8‑401
Authority and procedures for hearings
25‑8‑402
Procedures to be followed in classifying state waters and setting standards and control regulations
25‑8‑403
Administrative reconsideration
25‑8‑404
Judicial review
25‑8‑405
Samples - secret processes
25‑8‑406
Administrative stays - renewal permits
25‑8‑501
Permits required for discharge of pollutants - administration
25‑8‑501.1
Permit required for point source water pollution control - definitions - housed commercial swine feeding operations - legislative declaration
25‑8‑502
Application - definitions - fees - funds created - public participation - repeal
25‑8‑503
Permits - when required and when prohibited - variances
25‑8‑503.5
General permits - process for changing permit requirements
25‑8‑504
Agricultural wastes
25‑8‑505
Permit conditions concerning publicly owned wastewater treatment works
25‑8‑507
Program repeal
25‑8‑508
Industrial pretreatment program - creation - fees
25‑8‑509
Permit conditions concerning use and disposal of biosolids
25‑8‑601
Division to be notified of suspected violations and accidental discharges - penalty
25‑8‑602
Notice of alleged violations
25‑8‑603
Hearing procedures for alleged violations
25‑8‑604
Suspension, modification, and revocation of permit
25‑8‑605
Cease-and-desist orders
25‑8‑606
Clean-up orders
25‑8‑607
Restraining orders and injunctions
25‑8‑608
Civil penalties - rules - fund created - temporary moratorium on penalties for minor violations - definitions - repeal
25‑8‑608.7
Natural disaster grant fund - creation - rules
25‑8‑609
Criminal pollution - penalties
25‑8‑610
Falsification and tampering - penalties
25‑8‑611
Proceedings by other parties
25‑8‑612
Remedies cumulative
25‑8‑613
Limitation on actions
25‑8‑701
Definitions
25‑8‑702
Approval for commencement of construction
25‑8‑801
Definitions
25‑8‑802
Storm water management system administrator
25‑8‑803
Storm water management system administrator audits to support MS4 permittees’ programs
25‑8‑901
Definitions
25‑8‑902
School and child care clean drinking water fund - creation
25‑8‑903
Testing for the presence of lead in drinking water in child care centers, family child care homes, and eligible schools - remediation - maintenance of records - training - inspections - enforcement - reimbursement - technical assistance - exemptions - opt out by family child care home - reports
25‑8‑904
Report and recommendation regarding expansion required - legislative declaration
25‑8‑905
Repeal of part
25‑8‑1001
Definitions
25‑8‑1002
Division duties - testing water quality at mobile home parks - parameters of testing - notice of results
25‑8‑1003
Remediation
25‑8‑1004
Action plan
25‑8‑1005
Mobile home water quality grant program - created - grant application and award process - reporting - funding
25‑8‑1006
Mobile home park water quality fund
25‑8‑1007
Enforcement
25‑8‑1008
This part 10 does not affect other statutory protections
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 25-8-608’s source at colorado​.gov