81-546.

Transportation of gas; operation of pipeline facilities; violations; notice; failure to comply; penalty; considerations.

(1) Whenever the State Fire Marshal has reason to believe any person is violating any provision of subsection (1) of section 81-545 or any regulation under the Nebraska Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1969, the State Fire Marshal shall give notice to such person and permit such person reasonable opportunity to achieve compliance. If compliance has not been achieved in a reasonable time, the State Fire Marshal may request the Attorney General to bring an action under section 81-547 in the district court for the county in which the defendant's principal place of business is located, and the district court may impose a civil penalty of not to exceed ten thousand dollars for each violation for each day that such violation persists, except that the maximum civil penalty shall not exceed five hundred thousand dollars for any related series of violations.

(2) In determining the amount of such penalty, the court shall consider the appropriateness of such penalty to the size of the business of the person charged, the gravity of the violation, and the good faith of the person charged. The amount of such penalty, when finally determined, may be deducted from any sums owing by the State of Nebraska to the person charged.