Section 25323.5 Of Article 2. Definitions From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 20. >> Chapter 6.8. >> Article 2.
25323.5
. (a) (1) "Responsible party" or "liable person," for the
purposes of this chapter, means those persons described in Section
107(a) of the federal act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 9607(a)).
(2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), but except as provided in
subparagraph (B), a person is not a responsible party or liable
person, for purposes of this chapter, for the reason that the person
has developed or implemented innovative investigative or innovative
remedial technology with regard to a release site, if the use of the
technology has been approved by the department for the release site
and the person would not otherwise be a responsible party or liable
person. Upon approval of the use of the technology, the director
shall acknowledge, in writing, that, upon proper completion of the
innovative investigative or innovative remedial action at the release
site, the immunity provided by this subparagraph shall apply to the
person.
(B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply in any of the following cases:
(i) Conditions at the release site have deteriorated as a result
of the negligence of the person who developed or implemented the
innovative investigative or innovative remedial technology.
(ii) The person who developed or implemented the innovative
investigative or innovative remedial technology withheld or
misrepresented information that was relevant to the potential risks
or harms of the technology.
(iii) The person who implemented the innovative investigative or
innovative remedial technology did not follow the implementation
process approved by the department.
(b) For the purposes of this chapter, the defenses available to a
responsible party or liable person shall be those defenses specified
in Sections 101(35) and 107(b) of the federal act (42 U.S.C. Secs.
9601(35) and 9607(b)).
(c) Any person who unknowingly transports hazardous waste to a
solid waste facility pursuant to the exemption provided in
subdivision (e) of Section 25163 shall not be considered a
responsible party for purposes of this chapter solely because of the
act of transporting the waste. Nothing in this subdivision shall
affect the liability of this person for his or her negligent acts.