<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 31-18. - Inspections and investigations.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Inspection.</span> Agents, officials, or other qualified persons authorized by the county will periodically
               inspect land-disturbing activities to ensure compliance with the Act, this chapter,
               or rules or orders adopted or issued pursuant to this chapter, and to determine whether
               the measures required in the plan are effective in controlling erosion and sedimentation
               resulting from land-disturbing activity. Notice of the right to inspect shall be included
               in the certificate of approval of each plan.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Willful resistance, delay or obstruction.</span> No person shall willfully resist, delay, or, obstruct an authorized representative,
               employee, or agent of the county while that person is inspecting or attempting to
               inspect a land-disturbing activity under this section.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Notice of violation.</span> If the county determines that a person engaged in land-disturbing activity has failed
               to comply with the Act, this chapter, or rules, or orders adopted or issued pursuant
               to this chapter, a notice of violation shall be served upon that person. The notice
               may be served by any means authorized under GS 1A-1, Rule 4. The notice shall specify
               a date by which the person must comply with the Act, this chapter, or rules, or orders
               adopted pursuant to this chapter, and inform the person of the actions that need to
               be taken to comply with the Act, this chapter, or rules or orders adopted pursuant
               to this chapter. Any person who fails to comply within the time specified in the notice
               is subject to additional civil and criminal penalties for a continuing violation as
               provided in G.S. 113A- 64 and this chapter. If the person engaged in the land-disturbing
               activity has not received a previous notice of violation under this section, the county
               shall deliver the notice of violation in person and shall offer assistance in developing
               corrective measures. Assistance may be provided by referral to a technical assistance
               program on behalf of the approving authority, referral to a cooperative extension
               program, or by the provision of written materials such as department guidance documents.
               If the county is unable to deliver the notice of violation in person within 15 days
               following discovery of the violation, the notice of violation may be served in the
               manner prescribed for service of process by G.S. 1A-1, Rule 4, and shall include information
               on how to obtain assistance in developing corrective measures.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (d)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Investigation.</span> The county shall have the power to conduct such investigation as it may reasonably
               deem necessary to carry out its duties as prescribed in this chapter, and for this
               purpose to enter at reasonable times upon any property, public or private, for the
               purpose of investigating inspecting the sites of any land-disturbing activity.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (e)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Statements and reports.</span> The county shall also have the power to require written statements, or filing of
               reports under oath, with respect to pertinent questions relating to land-disturbing
               activity.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. No. 2008-18, 11-17-2008; Ord. No. 2021-10, 10-18-2021)
               </p></div>