If any region fails to submit a plan in a timely fashion, submits an inadequate plan, or fails to comply with other provisions of this act, then the commissioner of the Department of Environment and Conservation will impose the following sanctions:

1.  On the first instance of noncompliance, the commissioner shall issue a letter of warning indicating the reasons for noncompliance, setting forth the sequence of graduated sanctions for noncompliance and offering technical assistance to remedy the causes of noncompliance.

2.  Any noncompliance should be resolved as soon as possible. If noncompliance continues for thirty (30) days after receipt of the warning letter, the noncomplying county or region will lose eligibility for funds from the solid waste management fund, unless the commissioner states in writing that, due to particular circumstances, a longer time is appropriate.

3.  If noncompliance continues for sixty (60) days after receipt of the warning letter, then, in addition to any other penalty imposed by law, the commissioner may impose a civil penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each day of noncompliance beyond the sixty-day period.

Any civil penalty will be assessed in the same manner as provided in § 68-211-117(b). Any penalty collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the solid waste management fund. T.C.A. § 68-211-816.