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Robert McClellon applied the criteria set forth in PRC section 45016 in assessing <br />the civil penalties set forth in the NOPA. Mr. McClellon considered the purpose of <br />imposing monetary penalties, which included achieving compliance; protecting <br />the environment; protecting public health and safety; deterring future misconduct; <br />and eliminating unfair business advantage gained from noncompliance. All three <br />violations were repeatedly cited by EHD personnel for failure to remediate these <br />deficiencies at every inspection performed on the site between November 2003 <br />and December 2011. Owner/Operator was repeatedly reminded that the Notice <br />and Order was still in effect, and on December 9, 2009, was specifically warned <br />that failure to abate the violations "may result in additional enforcement actions." <br />Mr. McClellon viewed each of the three Title 27 violations as continuing, and <br />calculated the penalty from December 14, 2008 (the date the Notice and Order <br />became final ) to February 14, 2012, a period of 1155 days." Whereas PRC <br />section 45011 allows for a civil penalty of up to $ 5,000 per day per violation, Mr. <br />McClellon imposed penalties that were one percent of the maximum ($ 50 per <br />day). In selecting a "base amount' for each violation, Mr. McClellon considered <br />PRC section 45011, subdivision (a), the nature, circumstances, extent and <br />gravity of the violation; he then applied the other factors as matters in <br />aggravation or mitigation of the base amount, as follows: <br />27 CCR section 20820 (Inadequate Drainage/Erosion Control), 27 CCR section <br />20650 (Inadequate Grading of Fill Surfaces), 27 CCR section 20750 (Inadequate <br />Site Maintenance): Mr. McClellon used a base civil penalty of $ 50 per day; he <br />found that there was a chronic pattern of noncompliance (PRC section 45016, <br />subdivision (c)), and that violations were intentional (PRC section 45016, <br />subdivision (d)), as factors in aggravation, with a 10 percent multiplier for each <br />factor (10 percent total). He found no factors in mitigation. He calculated the civil <br />penalty as follows: $ 50 per day x 1155 days = $ 57,750. $ 57,750 + ($57,750 x <br />10) _ $ 63,525. $ 63,525 x 3 (violations) _ $ 190,575. <br />Amount of Civil Penalties <br />27 CCR section 20820 (Inadequate Drainage/Erosion Control), 27 CCR section <br />20650 (Inadequate Grading of Fill Surfaces), 27 CCR section 20750 (Inadequate <br />Site Maintenance). EHD seeks a civil penalty for this violation of $ 50 per day <br />(base amount), which is one percent of the maximum $5,000 per day authorized <br />by PRC section 45011. This amount reflects the nature, circumstances, extent, <br />and gravity of the violation, taking into account protection of public health and <br />safety and the environment (PRC section 45016, subdivision (a)). By failing to <br />correct these violations, owner/operator has increased the risk to public health, <br />safety and the environment. Although having more than three years to do so, <br />owner/operator has not corrected the violation, and the violations/ circumstances <br />leading to the violations were not due to circumstances beyond the reasonable <br />control of the violator (PRC section 45016, subdivisions (b) and (1)). EHD applied <br />