(1) In addition to any other penalties and remedies of this chapter and at law, any person, firm, or corporation who violates any provisions of this chapter or rules adopted pursuant thereto, or who fails to perform the duties imposed thereby, or who violates any determination or order thereunder or any violation of a lease granted under this chapter, the director of the department of lands may:
(a)  Proceed by legal action in the name of the state of Idaho to enjoin the violation, by temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and/or permanent injunction.
(i)   The court, or a judge thereof at chambers, if satisfied from a verified complaint or by affidavit that the alleged violation has been or is being committed, may issue a temporary restraining order, without notice or bond, enjoining the defendant, his agents, employees, contractors and assigns from further violation, or from conducting exploration or mining on the state lands affected by the violation.
(ii)  The verified complaint or affidavit that the alleged violation has been or is being committed shall constitute prima facie evidence of great or irreparable injury and/or great waste sufficient to support the temporary restraining order.
(iii) The action shall thereafter proceed as in other cases for injunctions. If at the trial the violation is established, the court shall enter a decree perpetually enjoining said defendant, his agents, employees, contractors and assigns from thereafter committing said or similar violations.
(b)  Proceed by legal action in the name of the state of Idaho to obtain an order requiring the operator to promptly repair the damage and reclaim the state lands in accordance with the requirements of section 47-703A, Idaho Code, and rules adopted pursuant thereto. If thereafter the court finds that the operator is not promptly complying with such order, the court shall order the operator to immediately pay an amount determined by the department to be the anticipated cost of reasonable repair and reclamation in accordance with section 47-703A(4), Idaho Code, and rules adopted pursuant thereto.
(c)  Proceed to forfeit the operator’s bond required by section 47-703A(1), 47-704(6) or 47-708, Idaho Code. The board may cause to have issued and served upon the operator alleged to be committing such violation, a formal complaint which includes a statement of the manner in and the extent to which said operator is alleged to be violating the provisions of this act. Such complaint may be served by certified mail, and return receipt signed by the lessee, an officer of a corporate lessee, or the designated agent of the lessee shall constitute service. The lessee shall answer the complaint and request a hearing before a designated hearing officer within thirty (30) days from receipt of the complaint if matters asserted in the complaint are disputed. If the lessee fails to answer the complaint and request a hearing, the matters asserted in the complaint shall be deemed admitted by the lessee, and the board may proceed to forfeit the bond in the amount necessary to reclaim affected lands and pay for any outstanding royalties and related administrative costs. The director of the department of lands is empowered to issue subpoenas. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code. The hearing officer shall enter an order in accordance with chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code. Appeal to a district court shall be in accordance with chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code.
(d)  Cancel the lease in accordance with section 47-707, Idaho Code.
(2)  In addition to the injunctive remedies of subsection (1)(a) of this section:
(a)  Proceed in the first instance by legal action in the name of the state of Idaho to recover from an operator who without bond has conducted or is conducting exploration with heavy equipment on state lands, including lands between the ordinary high watermarks of navigable rivers, the cost of repairing damage to and reclaiming the affected state lands in accordance with section 47-703A(4), Idaho Code, and rules adopted pursuant thereto; or if the bond on file with the department of lands is not sufficient to adequately reclaim the affected state lands, to recover the cost in excess of the bond to reclaim the affected state lands in accordance with section 47-703A(4), Idaho Code, and rules adopted pursuant thereto.
(b)  Proceed by legal action in the name of the state of Idaho to recover from an operator who has removed minerals in commercial quantities from state lands, including lands between the ordinary high watermarks of navigable rivers, in violation of the provisions of section 47-717, Idaho Code, damages in the amount of the prevailing royalty rate set by the board of land commissioners for the particular mineral removed plus interest from the date of removal at the legal rate of interest due on money judgments set by the Idaho state treasurer pursuant to section 28-22-104, Idaho Code, from the date of removal to judgment.
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Terms Used In Idaho Code 47-718

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person;
Idaho Code 73-114
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories; and the words "United States" may include the District of Columbia and territories. See Idaho Code 73-114
  • Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
    • (3)  In addition to any other penalties or injunctive remedies of this chapter, any person, firm, or corporation who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or rules adopted pursuant thereto, or who fails to perform the duties imposed by these provisions, or who violates any determination or order promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall be liable to a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day during which any provision of this chapter, rule or order has been or is being violated. All sums recovered shall be credited to the general fund.
    (4)  An appeal from a final judgment of the district court shall be taken in the manner provided by law for appeals in civil cases.