State environmental agencies - Complaint

investigation and response process - Rules - False complaints.

A. Each state environmental agency and each state agency with

limited environmental responsibilities shall develop, implement and

utilize a complaint investigation and response process that will

ensure all state environmental agencies with authority to

investigate, mitigate and resolve complaints, respond to complaints

in a timely manner by initiating appropriate action and informing

the complainant regarding potential actions that may occur.

Complainants shall also be notified, in writing:

1. Of the resolution of the complaint; and

2. Of the complainant's options for further resolution of the

complaint if such complainant objects or disagrees with the actions

or decision of the agency.

B. Rules to implement such system shall be promulgated by each

state environmental agency.

C. 1. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly and

willfully file a false complaint with a state environmental agency

or to knowingly and willfully misrepresent material information to a

state environmental agency or a state agency with limited

environmental responsibilities relating to a complaint.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 27A. Environment and Natural Resources Page 19

2. Any person filing such false complaint or misrepresenting

such material information shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor

and may be reported to local law enforcement for criminal

investigation and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a

fine of not more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00)

or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not more than

sixty (60) days or both such fine and imprisonment.