New York Environmental Conservation Code § 56-0509

Liability limitation
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
§ 56-0509. Liability limitation.\n  1. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as\nprovided in subdivision two of this section and in paragraph (h) of\nsubdivision two of section 56-0503 of this title, the following shall\nnot be liable to the state upon any statutory or common law cause of\naction, or to any person upon any statutory cause of action arising out\nof the presence of any contamination in or on property at any time\nbefore the effective date of a contract entered into pursuant to this\ntitle or written agreement pursuant to subdivision three of section\n56-0503 of this title:\n  (i) a municipality receiving state assistance under this title to\nundertake, or under written agreement pursuant to subdivision three of\nsection 56-0503 of this title for the state to undertake an\nenvironmental restoration project and complying with the terms and\nconditions of the contract or written agreement pursuant to subdivision\nthree of section 56-0503 of this title providing such assistance; and\n  (ii) a successor in title to the real property subject to an\nenvironmental restoration project; any lessee of such property; and any\nperson that provides financing to such party relative to the\nremediation, restoration, or redevelopment of such property; provided\nthat such successor in title, lessee, or lender did not generate,\narrange for, transport, or dispose, and did not cause the generation,\narrangement for, transportation, or disposal of any contamination\nlocated at such property, and did not own such property.\n  (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, any person\nseeking the benefit of this subdivision shall bear the burden of proving\nthat a cause of action, or any part thereof, is attributable solely to\ncontamination present in or on such parcel before the effective date of\nsuch contract.\n  2. Subdivisions one and three of this section shall not apply to\nrelieve any municipality, successor in title, lessee, or lender from\nliability arising from:\n  (a) failing to implement such project to the department's satisfaction\nor failing to comply with the terms and conditions of the contract;\n  (b) fraudulently demonstrating that the cleanup levels identified in\nor to be identified in accordance with such project were reached;\n  (c) causing the release or threat of release at the property subject\nto such project of any contamination after the effective date of such\ncontract; or\n  (d) changing such property's use from the intended use as identified\nin the contract pursuant to section 56-0503 of this title to a use\nrequiring a lower level of residual contamination unless the additional\nremedial activities are undertaken which shall meet the same standard\nfor protection of public health and the environment that applies to\nremedial actions undertaken pursuant to 27-1313 of this chapter so that\nsuch use can be implemented with sufficient protection of public health\nand the environment.\n  3. The state shall indemnify and save harmless any municipality,\nsuccessor in title, lessee, or lender identified in paragraph (a) of\nsubdivision one of this section in the amount of any judgment or\nsettlement, obtained against such municipality, successor in title,\nlessee, or lender in any court for any common law cause of action\narising out of the presence of any contamination in or on property at\nanytime before the effective date of a contract entered into pursuant to\nthis title. Such municipality, successor in title, lessee, or lender\nshall be entitled to representation by the attorney general, unless the\nattorney general determines, or a court of competent jurisdiction\ndetermines, that such representation would constitute a conflict of\ninterest, in which case the attorney general shall certify to the\ncomptroller that such party is entitled to private counsel of its\nchoice, and reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses shall be reimbursed\nby the state. Any settlement of such an

‹ Prev All New York sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.