Sec. 6. (a) When a person holding a valid permit concerning an activity of a continuing nature has made a timely and sufficient application for a renewal or a new permit in accordance with rules of the board, the existing permit does not expire until a final determination on the application has been made by the department. However, the commissioner may seek injunctive relief with regard to the continuing activity of the permit applicant while the permit application is pending if the continuing activity of the permit applicant constitutes a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare.
(b) An application for renewal of a hazardous waste disposal facility operating permit under IC 13-22-3 must be submitted at least one hundred eighty (180) days before the expiration of the facility's current permit to be considered timely under this section.