The bill would impose fines of up to $1,000 for violations.

But no penalties would be imposed for violations committed during the first two years that the rules were in effect.

The actions included nine warning letters and one civil fine, imposed for repeated violations.

Fines - and sometimes even jail time - are imposed for violations.

Under Federal regulations, the Government may impose civil fines of $3,000 to $10,000 a day for serious violations.

Company officials acknowledged the fines but said they were imposed largely for violations of paperwork requirements involved in the water discharge process.

Many countries impose harsh penalties for violations that would be considered minor in the United States.

The sanctions, which were imposed for violations of a 1986 computer chip agreement, were later reduced to $165 million.

The agency's director has the authority to impose fines for violations of the state's anti-pollution laws.

But the board's power to impose fines for violations of house rules is less clear.