(a) No person shall be liable to the state in any civil action for any cost relating to any spill, as defined in section 22a-452c, attributable to a residential underground heating oil storage tank system if (1) such person has provided for the removal or replacement of such system after July 1, 1999, and before January 1, 2002, and (2) such person has provided notice and documentation of such removal or replacement to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection in such form and containing such information as the commissioner may require. After a person has been released from potential liability pursuant to this subsection, such release as it applies to such removal or replacement shall apply to subsequent owners of property where such removal or replacement occurred. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any person who fails to discontinue the use of or to remove a residential underground heating oil storage tank system within the period specified by an order of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. Removals and replacements shall be conducted in accordance with subsection (a) of section 22a-449m.

(b) On or before January 1, 2000, and annually thereafter until January 1, 2003, the commissioner shall report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment regarding the program established under this section, the extent to which it is used and the extent of the state's liability for environmental remediation as a result of the program.

(P.A. 99-269, S. 1, 6; P.A. 00-201, S. 4, 8; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 99-269 effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-201 designated existing language re immunity from liability as Subsec. (a), deleting provisions re underground petroleum storage tank system, adding provision re residential underground heating oil storage tank system and adding language re release applying to subsequent owners, exceptions, and requirement to comply with Sec. 22a-449m(a), and designated existing language re reports as Subsec. (b), effective June 1, 2000; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011.