Cal. HSC § 33459.3 — California Code / Code hsc / Division 24 / Part 1 / Chapter 4 / Article 12.5 / Section 33459.3
Section 33459.3
Status: in_force

(a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in Section 33459.7, an agency that undertakes and completes an action, or causes another person to undertake and complete an action pursuant to Section 33459.1, as specified in subdivision (c), to remedy or remove a hazardous substance release on, under, or from property within a redevelopment project, in accordance with a cleanup or remedial action plan prepared by a qualified independent contractor and approved by the department or a California regional water quality control board or the local agency, as appropriate, pursuant to subdivision (b), is not liable, with respect to that release only, under Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code or Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100), Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 25280), or Chapter 6.75 (commencing with Section 25299.10), of Division 20 of, or Part 2 (commencing with Section 78000) of Division 45 of, this code, or any other state or local law providing liability for remedial or removal actions for releases of hazardous substances. If the remedial action was also performed pursuant to Chapter 6.65 (commencing with Section 25260) of Division 20, and a certificate of completion is issued pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 25264, the immunity from agency action provided by the certificate of completion, as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 25264, shall apply to the agency, in addition to the immunity conferred by this section. In the case of a remedial action performed pursuant to Chapter 6.65 (commencing with Section 25260) of Division 20, and for which the administering agency is a local agency, the limitations on the certificate of completion set forth in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (c) of Section 25264 are limits on any immunity provided for by this section and subdivision (c) of Section 25264.

(b)  Upon approval of any cleanup or remedial action plan, pursuant to applicable statutes and regulations, the director or the California regional water quality control board or the local agency, as appropriate, shall acknowledge, in writing, within 60 days of the date of approval, that upon proper completion of the remedial or removal action in accordance with the plan, the immunity provided by this section shall apply to the agency.

(c)  Notwithstanding any provision of law or policy providing for certification by a person conducting a remedial or removal action that the action has been properly completed, a determination that a remedial or removal action has been properly completed pursuant to this section shall be made only upon the affirmative approval of the director or the California regional water quality control board or the local agency, as appropriate. The department, California regional water quality control board, or local agency, as appropriate, shall, within 60 days of the date it finds that a remedial action has been completed, notify the agency in writing that the immunity provided by this section is in effect.

(d)  The approval of a cleanup or remedial action plan under this section by a local agency shall also be subject to the concurrent approval of the department or a California regional water quality control board when the agency receiving the approval was formed by the same entity of which the local agency is a part.

(e)  Upon proper completion of a remedial or removal action, as specified in subdivision (c), the immunity from agency action provided by the certificate of completion provided pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 25264 and the immunity provided by this section extends to all of the following, but only for the release or releases specifically identified in the approved cleanup or remedial action plan and not for any subsequent release or any release not specifically identified in the approved cleanup or remedial action plan:

(1)  Any employee or agent of the agency, including an instrumentality of the agency authorized to exercise some, or all, of the powers of an agency within, or for the benefit of, a redevelopment project and any employee or agent of the instrumentality.

(2)  Any person who enters into an agreement with an agency for the redevelopment of property, if the agreement requires the person to acquire property affected by a hazardous substance release or to remove or remedy a hazardous substance release with respect to that property.

(3)  Any person who acquires the property after a person has entered into an agreement with an agency for redevelopment of the property as described in paragraph (2).

(4)  Any person who provided financing to a person specified in paragraph (2) or (3).

(f)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the immunity provided by this section does not extend to any of the following:

(1)  Any person who was a responsible party for the release before entering into an agreement, acquiring property, or providing financing, as specified in subdivision (e).

(2)  Any person specified in subdivision (a) or (e) for any subsequent release of a hazardous substance or any release of a hazardous substance not specifically identified in the approved cleanup or remedial action plan.

(3)  Any contractor who prepares the cleanup or remedial action plan, or conducts the removal or remedial action.

(4)  Any person who obtains an approval, as specified in subdivision (b), or a determination, as specified in subdivision (c), by fraud, negligent or intentional nondisclosure, or misrepresentation, and any person who knows before the approval or determination is obtained or before the person enters into an agreement, acquires the property or provides financing, as specified in subdivision (e), that the approval or determination was obtained by these means.

(g)  The immunity provided by this section is in addition to any other immunity of an agency provided by law.

(h)  This section does not impair any cause of action by an agency or any other party against the person, firm, or entity responsible for the hazardous substance release which is the subject of the removal or remedial action taken by the agency or other person immune from liability pursuant to this section.

(i)  This section does not apply to, or limit, alter, or restrict, any action for personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death.

(j)  This section does not limit liability of a person described in paragraph (3) or (4) of subdivision (e) for damages under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601 et seq.).

(k)  This section does not establish, limit, or affect the liability of an agency for any release of a hazardous substance that is not investigated or remediated pursuant to this section or Chapter 6.65 (commencing with Section 25260) of Division 20.

(l)  The immunity provided for by this section is only conferred if both of the following apply:

(1)  The action is in accordance with a cleanup or remedial action plan prepared by a qualified independent contractor and approved by the department or a California regional water quality control board or the local agency, as appropriate, pursuant to subdivision (b).

(2)  The remedial or removal action is undertaken and properly completed, as specified in subdivision (c).

(m)  The agency shall reimburse the department, the California regional water quality control board, and the local agency for costs incurred in reviewing or approving cleanup or remedial action plans pursuant to this section.