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<section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="7-266.1" title_number="7" title_name="Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Substances" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Controlled Hazardous Substances">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In addition to being subject to penalties under §§ 7-266 and 7-267 of this subtitle and cost recovery under § 7-221 of this subtitle, a responsible person who fails without sufficient cause to comply with a final order issued under this subtitle is subject to punitive damages, not exceeding three times the amount of any costs that are incurred by the State:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>After the date of the final decision as provided in subsection (b) of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>As a result of the responsible person’s failure to comply with the final order.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Before seeking the punitive damages authorized by subsection (a) of this section, the Department shall issue to the responsible person a determination that the responsible person failed without sufficient cause to comply with a final order issued under this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A responsible person subject to a determination issued by the Department under paragraph (1) of this subsection is entitled to a contested case hearing to determine whether the responsible person had sufficient cause for the failure to comply with the final order.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Following a final decision upholding the determination issued by the Department, the State may commence a civil action against the responsible person to recover the punitive damages.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
