(a)  If corrective action is not taken on or before the date specified in an order issued pursuant to Section 25187, or if in the judgment of the department immediate corrective action is necessary to remedy or prevent an imminent substantial danger to the public health, domestic livestock, wildlife, or the environment, the department may take, or contract for the taking of, that corrective action and recover the cost thereof as provided in subdivision (c).

(b)  (1)  The department may expend up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in a 12-month period of available moneys in the Hazardous Waste Control Account in the General Fund to take corrective action pursuant to subdivision (a).

(2)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may enter into written contracts for corrective action taken or to be taken pursuant to subdivision (a).

(3)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may enter into oral contracts, not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in obligation, when in the judgment of the department immediate corrective action is necessary to remedy or prevent an imminent substantial danger to the public health, domestic livestock, wildlife, or the environment.

(4)  The contracts entered into pursuant to this subdivision, whether written or oral, may include provisions for the rental of tools or equipment, either with or without operators furnished, and for the furnishing of labor and materials necessary to accomplish the work.

(5)  Any contract entered into by the department pursuant to this subdivision shall be exempt from approval by the Department of General Services pursuant to Section 10295 of the Public Contract Code.

(c)  If corrective action is taken pursuant to subdivision (a), the person or persons who were subject to the order issued pursuant to Section 25187, or any person or persons whose violation resulted in the imminent and substantial danger to health or the environment shall be liable to the department for the reasonable cost actually incurred in taking corrective action. In addition, the person or persons shall be liable to the department for administrative costs in an amount equal to 10 percent of the reasonable cost actually incurred or five hundred dollars ($500), whichever is greater. The amount of cost determined pursuant to this subdivision shall be recoverable in a civil action by the department, in addition to any other fees or penalties. Persons who may be liable pursuant to this subdivision shall include, but not be limited to, present or prior owners, lessees, or operators of the property where the hazardous waste is located and producers, transporters or disposers of the hazardous waste.

(d)  Neither the department, nor any person authorized by the department to enter upon any lands for the purpose of taking corrective action pursuant to subdivision (a) is liable to civil or criminal action for trespass for any acts that are necessary to carry out the corrective action.

(e)  This section does not impose any new liability associated with acts that occurred before January 1, 1981, if the acts were not in violation of existing law or regulations at the time they occurred.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 882, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1999.)