§22-15A-27. Civil actions and administrative fines; powers and duties of secretary.

(a) Civil action. -– In addition to being subject to injunctive relief under this article, a manufacturer who violates any provision of section twenty-four or twenty-five of this article or of any rule adopted pursuant to said sections is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 to be collected in a civil action brought by the secretary. Venue for such actions shall be in the circuit court of Kanawha County. Each day a violation occurs is a separate violation.

(b) Administrative action. –- (1) In addition to any other remedies available at law and after an opportunity for a hearing which may be waived in writing by the person accused of a violation, the secretary may impose a penalty for violation of any provision of section twenty-four or twenty-five of this article or any rule adopted thereunder. The secretary's decision may be appealed to the Environmental Quality Board.

(2) The penalty imposed on a person under this subsection shall be up to $1,000 for each violation, but not to exceed a total of $50,000 a year. Each day a violation occurs is a separate violation under this subsection.

(3) Any penalty imposed under this subsection is payable to the State of West Virginia and collectible in any manner provided by law for the collection of debts.

(4) Any penalty collected under this section shall be placed in the Covered Electronic Devices Takeback Fund.

(c) Powers and duties of secretary. -– The secretary may conduct audits and inspections to determine compliance with the provisions of sections twenty-four and twenty-five of this article and may take enforcement action as provided herein. The secretary may remove a manufacturer from the registration list for failure to pay any penalty imposed under this section and upheld on appeal.