The Legislature finds and declares that the effective regulation of air pollution emissions requires that permit applicants who have a demonstrated recurring pattern of air pollution control violations, and who have consistently refused to take the necessary steps to cooperate with a district to correct those violations, shall be subject to appropriate permit actions to bring them into compliance. The Legislature further finds that noncompliance may endanger the public health and safety and the environment and places permit applicants that are in compliance at a serious competitive disadvantage.
It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to provide districts with an effective enforcement tool to bring noncompliant permit applicants into conformity with the applicable air pollution control laws and regulations. It is further the intent of the Legislature that any permit action authorized by this article shall be taken only after a district has attempted to bring the applicant into voluntary or required compliance, in accordance with the procedural and due process requirements prescribed by this article.