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Show PENNSYLVANIA 641 or acquired.18 Any effluent discharge permit or construction permit granted by the department may thereafter be revoked or modified by the department.19 With respect to industrial wastes, the act provides that, unless the discharge is authorized by the rules and regulations, any person or municipality must obtain a discharge permit before such wastes are discharged into the waters of the State or into any sewer system owned by another person or municipality, if that system ultimately discharges its effluent wastes into State waters.20 Plans and designs must be submitted to the department for approval and issuance of a permit before any facility for the treatment or discharge of in- dustrial wastes may be constructed.21 The requirements and pro- cedures for discharge permits and construction permits relating to industrial wastes are almost identical to those relating to sewage. Mining activities receive special mention in the act. Any person or municipality must obtain a permit from the department before operating a mine or allowing any waste to enter the waters of the State, unless such discharge is authorized by the rules and regulations of the department. A discharge from a mine includes any discharge which occurs after mining operations have ceased. In granting a per- mit to operate a mine or discharge waters from it, the department may require a surety bond to guarantee compliance with the law and the conditions of the permit.22 The department may also find that any activity not covered by the statutory permit requirements is creating a danger of pollution" to the waters of the State, or that regulation of the activity is necessary to avoid pollution, and may thereupon require that such activity be subject to permits from the department.23 Thus, the department has authority to deal with any activity within the State that is potentially dangerous to the quality of the waters of the State. So far as enforcement measures are concerned, the department has a number of effective devices at its disposal, in addition to those dis- cussed above relating to municipal officers. These include the author- ity to order a landowner to correct any condition on his lands causing either pollution or a danger of pollution, and the further authority to contract with any other person or agency to correct the condition if the landowner refuses to do so. In the latter event, any expense incurred may be assessed against the landowner, and it becomes a lien against the land if it is not paid.24 Further, any violation of the act, or of any regulation, order, or permit condition issued pursuant to the act, is a public nuisance and may be abated in the same nlanner as anv other public nuisance.25 There are also criminal penalties for violation of the act or of any rules, regulations, orders, or permit requirements issued pursuant to the act.26 Beyond that, the depart- ment may assess civil penalties of up to $10,000 and in addition "35 P.S., sec. 691.207. 19 35 P.S., sec. 691.208. 80 35 P.S., sec. 691.307. a 35 P.S., sec. 691.308. 2*35 P.S., sec. 691.315. *>35 P.S., sec. 691.402. «35 P.S., sec. 691.316. *35 P.S., sec. 691.601. >*S5 P.S., sec. 691.602. |