Rhode Island General Laws 42-17.8-4. Exceptions
No regulated entity shall be entitled to avail itself of the compliance incentives set forth in § 42-17.8-3 where:
(1) The regulated entity fails to comply with the conditions set forth in §§ 42-17.8-5, 42-17.8-6 and 42-17.8-7;
(2) The regulated entity’s conduct and/or violations demonstrate a willful or knowing or reckless disregard for complying with environmental laws or a management pattern or practice that has the effect of condoning or concealing violations of environmental laws;
(3) Gross negligence on the part of the regulated entity;
(4) The violation resulted in serious, actual harm or created an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health, public safety or the environment;
(5) The violation(s) in question is a “repeat violation” that has occurred within the past three (3) years at the same facility, or is part of a pattern of federal, state or local violations by the regulated entity. For the purposes of this section, a violation is:
(i) Any violation of federal, state or local environmental law identified in a judicial or administrative order, consent agreement, or order by the department, EPA or other governmental agency, a conviction or plea agreement; or
(ii) Any act or omission for which the regulated entity has previously received penalty mitigation from EPA or the department or local agency.
(6) The regulated entity fails to cooperate fully with the department by providing such information as is necessary for the department to determine applicability of this chapter. Cooperation includes, at a minimum, providing the department with all relevant documents, access to the regulated entity’s facility(ies) and assistance in investigating the violation and any environmental consequences resulting from the violation.
History of Section.
P.L. 1997, ch. 196, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 141, § 1.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 42-17.8-4
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Department: means the department of environmental management. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-17.8-2
- Environmental law: means all federal, state or municipal statutes, rules, regulations, permits, licenses or other legal requirements that are administered or enforced by the department, and shall also include any judicial or administrative order or consent agreement. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-17.8-2
- Plea agreement: An arrangement between the prosecutor, the defense attorney, and the defendant in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for special considerations. Source:
- Regulated entity: means any person including a federal, state or municipal agency or facility, regulated under federal or state environmental laws. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-17.8-2
- Violation: means infraction of or noncompliance with any environmental law enforced or administered by the department. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-17.8-2