§ 45-776. Conditions or practices in violation of act - Cessation order - Additional obligations on operator.

If, on the basis of any inspection, the Department determines that any unacceptable condition or practice exists, or that any permittee is in violation of any requirement of this act or any permit condition required by this act, which condition, practice or violation also creates an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public, or is causing, or can reasonably be expected to cause significant, imminent environmental harm to land, air or water resources, the Department shall immediately order a cessation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations or the portion thereof relevant to the condition, practice or violation.  Such cessation order shall remain in effect until the Department determines that the condition, practice or violation has been abated, or until modified, vacated or terminated by the Department. If the Department finds that the ordered cessation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations, or any portion thereof, will not completely abate the imminent danger to the health or safety of the public or the significant imminent environmental harm to land, air or water resources, the Department shall, in addition to the cessation order, impose affirmative obligations on the operator requiring him to take whatever steps the Department deems necessary to abate the imminent danger or the significant environmental harm.

Laws 1979, c. 249, § 43, emerg. eff. June 1, 1979.