§1362. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 1983, c. 569, §1 (NEW).]

1.  Hazardous substance.  "Hazardous substance" means:

A. Any substance identified by the department under section 1319-O;   [PL 2019, c. 315, §13 (AMD).]

B. Any substance identified by the board under section 1319;   [PL 1983, c. 569, §1 (NEW).]

C. Any substance designated pursuant to the United States Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, Public Law 96-510, Sections 101 and 102 (Superfund);   [PL 1985, c. 746, §32 (AMD).]

D. Any toxic pollutant listed under the United States Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Section 307(a);   [PL 1983, c. 569, §1 (NEW).]

E. Any hazardous air pollutant listed under the United States Clean Air Act, Section 112;   [PL 1985, c. 746, §32 (AMD).]

F. Any imminently hazardous chemical substance or mixture with respect to which the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency has taken action pursuant to the United States Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 7; and   [PL 1985, c. 746, §32 (AMD).]

G. Waste oil as defined in section 1303-C.   [PL 1989, c. 878, Pt. B, §42 (AMD).]

[PL 2019, c. 315, §13 (AMD).]

1-A.  Federal banking or lending agency.  "Federal banking or lending agency" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Resolution Trust Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, a federal reserve bank, a federal home loan bank, the United States Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the National Credit Union Administration, the Farm Credit Administration, the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation, the Small Business Administration, the Farmers' Home Administration, the Rural Electrification Administration or the RECOLL Management Corporation.

[PL 1991, c. 811, §1 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 811, §7 (AFF).]

1-B.  Lender.  "Lender" means any person, as defined by Title 9-B, section 131, subsection 30, including a successor or assignee of that person, that makes a bona fide extension of credit to or takes or acquires a security interest from a nonaffiliated person; a financial institution or credit union authorized to do business in this State, as defined in Title 9-B, section 131, subsections 12-A and 17-A; a financial institution that is acting through a service corporation as defined in Title 9-B, section 131, subsection 37; or any federal or state banking or lending agency that provides loans, guarantees or other financial assistance. For the purpose of this subsection, the phrase "acting through" includes the assignment or transfer of an interest in real property acquired in satisfaction of a debt.

[PL 1999, c. 289, §1 (AMD).]

1-C.  Political subdivision.  "Political subdivision" means any city, town, plantation, county, administrative entity or instrumentality created pursuant to Title 30-A, chapter 115 or 119, or quasi-municipal corporation or special purpose district, including, but not limited to, any water district or sanitary district.

[PL 1991, c. 811, §1 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 811, §7 (AFF).]

1-D.  Fiduciary.  "Fiduciary" means a person who is:

A. Acting in any of the following capacities: a personal representative as defined in Title 18-C, section 1-201; a voluntary executor or administrator; a guardian; a conservator; a trustee under a will or intervivos instrument creating a trust of a donative type associated with probate practice where the trustee takes title to, otherwise controls or manages, property for the purpose of protecting or conserving that property; a trustee pursuant to an indenture agreement or similar financing agreement; a court-appointed receiver; a trustee appointed in proceedings under federal bankruptcy laws; and an assignee or trustee acting under an assignment made for the benefit of creditors; and   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. C, §108 (AMD); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

B. Holding legal title to, controlling or managing, directly or indirectly, any site as a fiduciary for purposes of administering an estate or trust of which the site is a part.   [PL 1993, c. 355, §59 (NEW).]

"Fiduciary" does not include the real or personal property held by an estate or trust administered by a fiduciary.

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. C, §108 (AMD); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

1-E.  Site.  "Site" means a licensed or unlicensed area or location where hazardous substances are handled or were handled or otherwise came to be located. "Site" includes all structures, appurtenances, improvements, equipment, machinery, containers, tanks and conveyances on the site.

[PL 1993, c. 355, §59 (NEW).]

2.  Responsible party.  "Responsible party" means any one or more of the following persons:

A. The owner or operator of the uncontrolled site;   [PL 1983, c. 569, §1 (NEW).]

B. Any person who owned or operated the uncontrolled site from the time any hazardous substance arrived there;   [PL 1983, c. 569, §1 (NEW).]

C. Any person who arranged for the transport or handling of a hazardous substance, provided that the substance arrived at the uncontrolled site; and   [PL 1983, c. 569, §1 (NEW).]

D. A person who accepted a hazardous substance for transport, if substance arrived at the uncontrolled site. After April 1, 1992, a person who accepts a hazardous substance for transport and delivers that substance to a licensed hazardous waste storage, treatment or disposal facility according to the manifest signed by the generator is not a responsible party.   [PL 1993, c. 732, Pt. A, §10 (AMD).]

[PL 1993, c. 732, Pt. A, §10 (AMD).]

2-A.  State banking or lending agency.  "State banking or lending agency" means any state agency that provides loans, guarantees or other financial assistance, including the Finance Authority of Maine, the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Maine State Housing Authority.

[PL 1991, c. 811, §3 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 811, §7 (AFF).]

3.  Uncontrolled hazardous substance site.  "Uncontrolled hazardous substance site" or "uncontrolled site" means an area or location, whether or not licensed, at which hazardous substances are or were handled or otherwise came to be located, if it is concluded by the commissioner that the site poses a threat or hazard to the health, safety or welfare of any person or to the natural environment and that action under this chapter is necessary to abate, clean up or mitigate that threat or hazard. The term includes all contiguous land under the same ownership or control and includes without limitation all structures, appurtenances, improvements, equipment, machinery, containers, tanks and conveyances on the site.

[PL 1983, c. 569, §1 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1983, c. 569, §1 (NEW). PL 1985, c. 746, §32 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 517, §29 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 878, §B42 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 811, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 811, §7 (AFF). PL 1993, c. 355, §§58,59 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 732, §A10 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 289, §1 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. C, §108 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2017, c. 475, Pt. A, §67 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 315, §13 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).