(a) Suits to abate nuisances.--Any activity or condition declared by this act to be a nuisance, or which is otherwise in violation of this act, shall be abatable in the manner provided by law or equity for the abatement of public nuisances. In addition, in order to restrain or prevent any violation of this act and of the rules, regulations or orders issued thereunder, or to restrain the maintenance and threat of public nuisance, suits may be instituted in equity or at law in the name of the Commonwealth upon relation of the Attorney General, the General Counsel or upon relation of any district attorney of any county, or upon relation of the solicitor of any municipality affected, after notice has first been served upon the Attorney General of the intention of the General Counsel, district attorney or solicitor to so proceed. Such proceedings may be prosecuted in the Commonwealth Court, or in the court of common pleas of the county where the activity has taken place, the condition exists or the public is affected, and to that end jurisdiction is hereby conferred in law and equity upon such courts. Except in cases of emergency where, in the opinion of the court, the exigencies of the case require immediate abatement of the nuisance, the court may, in its decree, fix a reasonable time during which the person responsible for the nuisance may make provision for the abatement of the same.

(b) Mandatory and special injunctions.--In cases where the circumstances require it or the public health is endangered, a mandatory preliminary injunction, special injunction or temporary restraining order may be issued upon the terms prescribed by the court, notice of the application therefor having been given to the defendant in accordance with the rules of equity practice, and in any such case the Attorney General, the General Counsel, the district attorney or the solicitor of any municipality shall not be required to give bond. In any such proceeding the court shall, upon motion of the Commonwealth, issue a prohibitory or mandatory preliminary injunction if it finds that the defendant is engaging in unlawful conduct as defined by this act or is engaged in conduct which is causing immediate and irreparable harm to the public. In addition to an injunction, the court in such equity proceedings may levy civil penalties in the same manner as the department in accordance with section 1307.¹

(c) Private actions.--Except as provided in subsection (d), any person having an interest which is or may be affected may commence a civil action on his behalf to compel compliance with this act or any rule, regulation, order or permit issued pursuant to this act by any owner, operator, landowner or occupier alleged to be in violation of any provision of this act or any rule, regulation, order or permit issued pursuant to this act. Except where 42 Pa.C.S. (relating to judiciary and judicial procedure) requires otherwise, the courts of common pleas shall have jurisdiction of such actions, and venue in such actions shall be as set forth in the Rules of Civil Procedure concerning civil actions in assumpsit. No such action may be commenced if the department has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil action in a court of the United States or of the Commonwealth or is in litigation before the Environmental Hearing Board to require the alleged violator to comply with this act or any rule, regulation, order or permit issued pursuant to this act, but, in any such action in a court of the United States or of the Commonwealth, any person having or representing an interest which is or may be adversely affected may intervene as a matter of right without posting bond.

(d) Notice of private action.--No action pursuant to subsection (c) may be commenced prior to 60 days after the plaintiff has given notice, in writing, of the violation to the department and to any alleged violator.

(e) Notice not required.--The 60-day notice provisions of subsection (d) to the contrary notwithstanding, any action pursuant to subsection (c) may be initiated immediately upon written notification to the department in the case where the violation or order complained of constitutes an imminent threat to the health or safety of the plaintiff or would immediately affect a legal interest of the plaintiff.

(f) Fees and costs.--The court, in issuing any final order in any action brought pursuant to this section, may award costs of litigation (including attorney and expert witness fees) to any party, whenever the court determines such award is appropriate. Except as provided in subsection (b), the court may, if a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is sought, require the filing of a bond or equivalent security in accord with the Rules of Civil Procedure.