(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a local agency that undertakes and completes an action, or causes another person to undertake and complete an action pursuant to Section 25403.1 for which a finding of completion is made pursuant to subdivision (b), to clean up a hazardous material release on, under, or from property within the local agency’s boundaries, in accordance with a cleanup plan prepared by a qualified independent contractor and approved by the department, a regional board, or the designated agency, in accordance with Section 25403.1, is not liable, with respect to that release only, pursuant to any of the following:

(A) Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code.

(B) 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.

(C) Any other state or local law imposing liability for cleanup of releases of hazardous materials.

(2) If the cleanup 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 local agency action provided by the certificate of completion, as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 25264, shall apply to the local agency, in addition to the immunity conferred by this section.

(3) In the case of a cleanup 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) Notwithstanding any provision of law or policy providing for certification by a person conducting a cleanup that the action has been properly completed, a determination that a cleanup has been properly completed pursuant to this section shall be made only upon the affirmative approval of the director, the regional board, or the designated agency, as appropriate. The department or regional board, as appropriate, shall, within 60 days of the date it finds that a cleanup has been completed, notify the local agency in writing that the immunity provided by this section is in effect. If another agency is designated to oversee the cleanup pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 25403.1, the designated agency shall issue a notice within 60 days of the date it finds that a cleanup has been completed.

(c) Upon proper completion of a cleanup, as specified in subdivision (b), the immunity from 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 plan and not for any subsequent release or any release not specifically identified in the approved cleanup plan:

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

(2) A person that enters into an agreement with a local agency for the development of property, if the agreement requires the person to acquire property affected by a hazardous material release or to clean up a hazardous material release with respect to that property.

(3) A person that acquires the property after a person has entered into an agreement with a local agency for development of the property, as described in paragraph (2).

(4) A person that provides financing to a person specified in paragraph (2) or (3).

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

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

(2) A person specified in subdivision (a) or (c) for any subsequent release of a hazardous material or any release of a hazardous material not specifically identified in the approved cleanup plan.

(3) A contractor who prepares the cleanup plan or conducts the cleanup.

(4) A person that obtains an approval of a cleanup plan pursuant to Section 25403.1, or pursuant to a finding, as specified in subdivision (b), by fraud, negligent or intentional nondisclosure, or misrepresentation, and a person that 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 (c), that the approval or determination was obtained by these means.

(e) The immunity provided by this section is in addition to any other immunity provided by law to a local agency.

(f) This section does not impair any cause of action by a local agency or any other party against the person responsible for the hazardous material release that is the subject of the cleanup taken by the local agency or other person immune from liability pursuant to this section.

(g) This section does not apply to, or limit, alter, or restrict, an action for personal injury or wrongful death.

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

(i) This section does not establish, limit, or affect the liability of a local agency for a release of a hazardous material that is not investigated or cleaned up pursuant to this section or Chapter 6.65 (commencing with Section 25260).

(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 588, Sec. 1. (AB 440) Effective January 1, 2014.)