As Amended
SEC. 49-17-173. Rules and regulations; violations; penalties.
(1) The district shall have the power to adopt and promulgate all reasonable rules and regulations regarding the specifications and standards relating to the construction, operation and maintenance of all collection facilities owned by any person who contracts with the district for the use or services of any treatment facilities either owned or operated by the district so as to cause compliance with the standards of water quality established by the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission pursuant to the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Law, and by any similar federal or state agency, and so as to effect the abatement of the pollution of the waters in the Mississippi Sound. The district shall also have the power to adopt and promulgate all reasonable rules and regulations regarding the specifications and standards relating to the construction, operation and maintenance of all treatment facilities either owned or operated by the district so as to cause compliance with the above-described standards of water quality and to effect the abatement of pollution of the waters in the Mississippi Sound. The district shall also have the power to adopt and promulgate all reasonable rules requiring mandatory connection to collection facilities by any person residing within the territorial boundaries of a public agency which contracts for use or services of treatment facilities or collection facilities owned or operated by the district, if the same is practicable, as determined by the district; in the event that the district determines that any such mandatory connection is not practical, then the district shall have the power to adopt and promulgate all reasonable rules and regulations regarding the specifications and standards relating to the construction, operation and maintenance of septic tanks by any person not required to so connect to such collection facilities so as to cause compliance with the above-described standards of water quality and to effect the abatement of pollution of the waters in the Mississippi Sound.
(2) All such rules and regulations prescribed by the district, after publication in a newspaper of general circulation in Hancock County, shall have the full force and effect of law, and violation thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) and not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) as may be prescribed in such rules and regulations.
(3) In the event of a violation of any rule or regulation adopted by the district to cause compliance with the standards of water quality established by the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission, or by any similar federal or state agency, or to effect the abatement of pollution of the waters in the Mississippi Sound, the district shall have authority to sue for and obtain damages or other appropriate relief, including injunctive relief.
(4) All such rules and regulations prescribed and the penalties fixed thereunder, by the authority of sections 49-17-161 through 49-17-209 shall not conflict with or suspend any rules, regulations or penalties prescribed by general statute or the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission. All fines and penalties levied and collected under sections 49-17-161 through 49-17-209 shall be remitted and accounted for in accordance with the general statutes relating thereto.
SOURCES: Laws, 1980, ch. 519, Sec. 7, eff from and after passage (approved May 20, 1980).