These regulations should be used by local government in carrying out enforcement responsibilities under the act, unless local government adopts separate rules to implement the act's enforcement provision.

Enforcement action by the department or local government may be taken whenever a person has violated any provision of the act or any master program or other regulation promulgated under the act. The choice of enforcement action and the severity of any penalty should be based on the nature of the violation, the damage or risk to the public or to public resources, and/or the existence or degree of bad faith of the persons subject to the enforcement action.