Kansas Statutes Chapter 55. Oil and Gas § 55-164. Administrative penalties; procedure; costs and attorney fees; disposition of moneys

(a) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, the commission, upon finding that an operator or contractor has violated the provisions of this act or any rule and regulation or order of the commission, may impose a penalty not to exceed $10,000, which shall constitute an actual and substantial economic deterrent to the violation for which the penalty is assessed. In the case of a continuing violation, every day such violation continues shall be deemed a separate violation.

(b) No penalty shall be imposed pursuant to this section except upon the written order of the commission to the person who committed the violation. The order shall state the violation, the penalty imposed and the right to appeal to the order issuing agency. Any such person, within 30 days after service of such order, may make written request to the commission for a hearing thereon. The commission shall conduct a hearing in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas administrative procedure act within 30 days after receipt of such request.

(c) Any person aggrieved by any order issued pursuant to this section may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas judicial review act.

(d) The commission may order an operator or contractor to pay any costs and reasonable attorney fees incurred by the commission in imposing and collecting any penalty pursuant to this section and may collect interest on any portion of such penalty, costs and attorney fees which remains unpaid more than 30 days after imposition, at the rate provided by K.S.A. 16-204, and amendments thereto, for interest on judgments.

(e) All moneys received from penalties imposed and costs and attorney fees assessed pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the conservation fee fund.