South Carolina Code 13-7-180. Penalties for violation of Article 2; hearings; penalties additional to those provided by other statutes; factors in assessing penalties
In the case of a radiological violation, defined as any radiation level in excess of limits set forth in all applicable laws, rules and regulations, any shipper or carrier shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one thousand nor more than five thousand dollars, in the discretion of the Department, and such person, if a shipper, shall lose his permit for not less than thirty days and until such further time as the shipper demonstrates to the Department’s satisfaction that adequate measures have been taken to insure that such violations will not reoccur.
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 13-7-180
- Carrier: means any person transporting radioactive wastes into or within the State for storage, disposal or delivery. See South Carolina Code 13-7-120
- Department: means the Department of Health and Environmental Control, including personnel authorized to act on behalf of the Department. See South Carolina Code 13-7-120
- Permit: means an authorization issued by the Department to any person to transport such radioactive wastes or offer such waste for transport. See South Carolina Code 13-7-120
- Person: means any individual, public or private corporation, political subdivision, government agency, municipality, industry, partnership or any other entity whatsoever. See South Carolina Code 13-7-120
- Radioactive waste: means any and all equipment or materials which are radioactive or have radioactive contamination and which are required pursuant to any governing laws, regulations or licenses to be disposed of or stored as radioactive waste. See South Carolina Code 13-7-120
- Shipper: means any person, whether a resident of South Carolina or a nonresident (1) who transports radioactive waste generated by him into or within the State; (2) who transports radioactive waste generated by another person into or within the State; or (3) who transfers radioactive waste to a carrier for transportation into or within the State; or (4) who transfers radioactive waste to another person if such wastes are transported into or within the State. See South Carolina Code 13-7-120
If a second radiological violation occurs within a period of twelve months the shipper or carrier shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than five thousand nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars, in the discretion of the Department, and such person if a shipper shall have its permit revoked for a period in the discretion of the Department of up to one year and until such further time as the shipper has shown to the Department’s satisfaction that adequate measures have been taken to insure that such violations will not reoccur.
B. Any person to whom an order issued under this article is directed shall comply therewith immediately, but on application to the Department, within twenty days after the date of the order, shall be afforded a hearing within thirty days of such application. Any hearings held pursuant to this section shall be held pursuant to the procedures set forth in Chapter 23 of Title 1, except that where the provisions of this article are in conflict with the provisions of Chapter 23 of Title 1, this article shall control.
C. Any fines or penalties set forth in this article are in addition to any others provided by statutes, rules or regulations.
D. In assessing a fine, penalty, or suspending or revoking a permit, the Department shall consider but not be limited to the following factors:
1. The degree of harm to the public health or safety which has resulted or might result from such violations;
2. The degree of exceedence of a radiation level as set forth in applicable law and regulation;
3. The duration of the violation; and
4. The prior record of the violator with regard to law and regulation governing the transportation of radioactive waste.