This bill proposes the addition of a new section, 22-11-22b, to the Code of West Virginia, aimed at increasing civil administrative penalties for violations related to individual or general construction stormwater permits and General Water Pollution Control Permits, particularly for larger projects. The bill outlines that penalties will be doubled for projects impacting between 100 and 500 acres, and can be increased by five to ten times for projects of 500 acres or more. It also introduces a definition of "accumulative impact" and establishes a civil penalty matrix that considers the number of violations, with additional penalties for projects with multiple infractions.

Furthermore, the bill mandates the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to adopt legislative rules to enforce these increased penalties, effective January 1, 2026. It specifies that any existing civil administrative penalties in sections 22-11-22 or 22-11-22a that conflict with the new rules will be superseded. The intent of the bill is to ensure that larger projects, which have a higher potential for significant environmental impacts, face more substantial penalties to deter repeat violations and promote compliance with environmental regulations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 22-11-22b