(A) There is hereby created in the state treasury the forestry pollution abatement fund, which shall be administered by the chief of the division of forestry.
(B) The fund may be used to pay costs incurred under all of the following:
(1) Rules adopted under division (A)(3) of section 1503.51 of the Revised Code;
(2) Division (B)(2) of section 1503.51 of the Revised Code;
(3) Division (A)(3) of section 1503.54 of the Revised Code in investigating, mitigating, minimizing, removing, or abating any pollution of the waters of the state caused by forestry pollution that requires emergency action to protect public health.
(C) Any person responsible for causing or allowing forestry pollution or an unauthorized release, spill, or discharge is liable to the chief for any costs incurred by the chief in investigating, mitigating, minimizing, removing, or abating the forestry pollution or release, spill, or discharge regardless of whether those costs were paid from the forestry pollution abatement fund or any other fund of the division. Upon the request of the chief, the attorney general shall bring a civil action against the responsible person to recover those costs. Money recovered under this section shall be credited to the forestry pollution abatement fund.
Added by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 1/1/2016.