33459.3
. (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), Chapter 6.75 (commencing with
Section 25299.10), or Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300), of
Division 20 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.