The secretary may issue a cease and desist order when an activity is causing or about to cause serious harm to public health or the environment.
§2050.8. Enforcement; cease and desist orders A. When a violation that is endangering or causing significant damage to public health or the environment is occurring or is about to occur, the secretary may issue a cease and desist order to protect public health or the environment. B. A cease and desist order shall: (1) Describe with specificity the activity occurring at the facility or the site that is endangering or causing significant damage to public health or the environment. (2) Identify the specific threat to public health or the environment that the activity presents. (3) Specify the measures that the owner or operator of the facility or the site is directed to undertake immediately in order to abate or to eliminate the danger or the damage to public health or the environment. C. A cease and desist order is effective upon the signing of the order. The respondent shall comply with the order immediately upon receiving knowledge of the order. D. A cease and desist order expires in fifteen days, unless terminated earlier by the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. E. The secretary may file an action in a district court for injunctive relief at the expiration of the cease and desist order. The secretary must establish that a violation is occurring or is about to occur and that the violation is endangering or causing significant damage to public health or the environment. Security is not required. All other provisions of law relative to injunctive relief apply. F.(1) An action for injunctive relief against a cease and desist order shall be brought in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. Exhaustion of administrative remedies is not a prerequisite to judicial review. (2) The party bringing an action under this Subsection has the burden of demonstrating, by clear and convincing evidence, that the activity specified in the cease and desist order is not endangering or causing significant damage to public health or the environment. G. A cease and desist order is not subject to administrative review. Acts 1995, No. 947, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; Acts 1999, No. 1184, §1, eff. July 9, 1999.