(1) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly: (a) fail to pay any fee assessed by the commission for administration of the federal air operating permit program; (b) fail to satisfy any air operating permit filing requirement; (c) make any false statement, representation of certification in any notice or report required by an air operating permit; or (d) render inaccurate any air monitoring device or method required by an air operating permit; and, upon conviction thereof, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) nor more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) per day of violation.
(2) In determining the amount of penalty under this section, the following shall be considered at a minimum: The willfulness of the violation;
(3) Any damage to air, water, land or other natural resources of the state or their uses;
(4) Costs of restoration or abatement;
(5) Economic benefit as a result of noncompliance;
(6) The seriousness of the violation, including any harm to the environment and any hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the public; and
(7) Past performance history.
(8) All fines collected by the commission under this section shall be deposited into the Pollution Emergency Fund established under Section 49-17-68, Mississippi Code of 1972.