(a) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) and paragraph (2), an action under Section 25360 for the recovery of costs incurred by the department or a regional board in carrying out or overseeing a response or corrective action pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100), or as otherwise authorized by law, shall be commenced within three years after completion of all response or corrective actions has been certified by the department or a regional board.

(B) If operation and maintenance is required as part of the response or corrective action, the action for recovery of costs incurred by the department or a regional board shall be commenced within three years after completion of operation and maintenance has been certified by the department or a regional board.

(2) No action described in paragraph (1) may be brought that, as of December 31, 2015, had not been commenced by the department within three years after the certification of the completion of the removal or remedial action.

(b) An action under subdivision (c) of Section 25352 for costs incurred by the department for the purposes specified in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 25352 shall be commenced within three years after certification by the department of the completion of the activities authorized under subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 25352.

(c) In an action described in subdivision (a) or (b) for recovery of response or corrective action costs, oversight costs, or damages, where the court has entered a judgment for past costs or damages, the court shall also enter an order reserving jurisdiction over the case and the court shall have continuing jurisdiction to determine any future liability and the amount of the future liability. The department or regional board may immediately enforce the judgment for past costs and damages. The department or the regional board may apply for a court judgment for further costs and damages that have been incurred during the response or corrective action, operation and maintenance, or during the performance of the activities authorized by Section 25352, but the application shall be made not later than three years after the certification of completion of the response or corrective action, operation and maintenance, or activities authorized pursuant to Section 25352.

(d) An action may be commenced under Section 25360 or subdivision (c) of Section 25352 at any time prior to expiration of the applicable limitations period provided for by this section.

(e) This section does not apply to a cost recovery action brought by a regional board under the Water Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 458, Sec. 1. (AB 275) Effective January 1, 2016.)