Article
II of this bylaw shall apply to all water entering the municipally owned storm drainage system or going, directly or indirectly, into a watercourse or waters of the commonwealth, that will be generated on any developed or undeveloped lands except as explicitly exempted in this bylaw or where the Planning Board has issued a waiver in accordance with Article
I, §
338-5.
The Zoning Enforcement Officer may suspend municipal storm drain
system access to any person or property without prior written notice
when such suspension is necessary to stop an actual or threatened
discharge of pollutants that presents imminent risk of harm to the
public health, safety, welfare or the environment. In the event any
person fails to comply with an emergency suspension order, the Zoning
Enforcement Officer may take all reasonable steps to prevent or minimize
harm to the public health, safety, welfare or the environment.
Notwithstanding other requirements of local, state or federal
law, as soon as a person responsible for a facility or operation,
or responsible for emergency response for a facility or operation,
has information of or suspects a release of materials at that facility
or operation resulting in or which may result in discharge of pollutants
to the municipal drainage system or waters of the commonwealth, the
person shall take all necessary steps to ensure containment and cleanup
of the release. In the event of a release of oil or hazardous materials,
the person shall immediately notify the Municipal Fire and Police
Departments. In the event of a release of nonhazardous material, the
reporting person shall notify the authorized enforcement agency no
later than the next business day. The reporting person shall provide
to the Zoning Enforcement Officer written confirmation of all telephone,
facsimile or in-person notifications within three business days thereafter.
If the discharge of prohibited materials is from a commercial or industrial
facility, the facility owner or operator of the facility shall retain
on site a written record of the discharge and the actions taken to
prevent its recurrence. Such records shall be retained for at least
three years.
The Zoning Enforcement Officer or its authorized agent shall
enforce this bylaw, and any associated regulations, orders, violation
notices, and enforcement orders and may pursue all civil and criminal
remedies for such violations.
A. Civil relief. If a person violates the provisions of this bylaw,
or any associated regulations, permit, notice, or order issued thereunder,
the Zoning Enforcement Officer may seek injunctive relief in a court
of competent jurisdiction restraining the person from activities which
would create further violations or compelling the person to perform
abatement or remediation of the violation.
B. Orders.
(1) The Zoning Enforcement Officer or its authorized agent may issue
a written order to enforce the provisions of this bylaw or any regulations
thereunder, which may include:
(a)
Elimination of illicit connections or discharges to the MS4;
(b)
Elimination of discharges to the MS4 or, directly or indirectly,
into a watercourse or into the waters of the commonwealth;
(c)
Performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
(d)
That unlawful discharges, practices, or operations shall cease
and desist;
(e)
That measures shall be taken to minimize the discharge of pollutants
until such time as the illicit connection shall be eliminated; and
(f)
Remediation of contamination in connection therewith.
(2) If the enforcing person determines that abatement or remediation
of contamination is required, the order shall set forth a deadline
by which such abatement or remediation must be completed. Said order
shall further advise that, should the violator or property owner fail
to abate or perform remediation within the specified deadline, the
Town may, at its option, undertake such work, and expenses thereof
shall be charged to the violator.
(3) Within 30 days after completing all measures necessary to abate the
violation or to perform remediation, the violator and the property
owner will be notified of the costs incurred by the Town, including
administrative costs. The violator or property owner may file a written
protest objecting to the amount or basis of costs with the Zoning
Enforcement Officer within 30 days of receipt of the notification
of the costs incurred. If the amount due is not received by the expiration
of the time in which to file a protest or within 30 days following
a decision of the Zoning Enforcement Officer affirming or reducing
the costs, or from a final decision of a court of competent jurisdiction,
the costs shall become a special assessment against the property owner
and shall constitute a lien on the owner's property for the amount
of said costs. Interest shall begin to accrue on any unpaid costs
at the statutory rate provided in MGL c. 59, § 57, after
the 31st day at which the costs first become due.
C. Criminal penalty. Any person who violates any provision of this bylaw,
regulation, order or permit issued thereunder shall be punished by
a fine of not more than $300. Each day or part thereof that such violation
occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense.
D. Noncriminal disposition. As an alternative to criminal prosecution or civil action, the Town may elect to utilize the noncriminal disposition procedure set forth in MGL c. 40, § 21D, and Article IV, §§
1-14 to
1-17, of the Town of Rockland General Bylaws, in which case the agent of the Zoning Enforcement Officer shall be the enforcing person. The penalty for the first violation shall be a warning. The penalty for the second violation shall be $100. The penalty for the third and subsequent violations shall be $300. Each day or part thereof that such violation occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense.
E. Entry to perform duties under this bylaw. To the extent permitted
by state law, or if authorized by the owner or other party in control
of the property, the Zoning Enforcement Officer, its agents, officers,
and employees may enter upon privately owned property for the purpose
of performing their duties under this bylaw and regulations and may
make or cause to be made such examinations, surveys or sampling as
the Zoning Enforcement Officer deems reasonably necessary.
F. Appeals. The decisions or orders of the Zoning Enforcement Officer
shall be final. Further relief shall be to a court of competent jurisdiction.
G. Remedies not exclusive. The remedies listed in this section are not
exclusive of any other remedies available under any applicable federal,
state or local law.
Residential property owners shall have 60 days from the effective
date of this bylaw to comply with its provisions, provided good cause
is shown for the failure to comply with the bylaw during that period.