(a) Any responsible party as defined by subdivision (a) of Section 25323.5 of the Health and Safety Code shall be liable to the district for the costs incurred in the removal or remedial action for the cleanup of any hazardous substance released or threatened to be released into the environment. The amount of the costs shall include interest on the costs accrued from the date of expenditure. The interest shall be calculated based on the average annual rate of return on the district’s investment of surplus funds for the fiscal year in which the district incurred the costs. Recovery of costs by a community facilities district under this section shall be commenced before or immediately upon completion of the removal or remedial action, and payments received hereunder by the district shall be deposited in the revolving fund in accordance with Section 53314.6.
(b) To expedite cleanup, this section is intended to provide local jurisdictions an alternative method of financing the cost of removal or remedial action for the cleanup of any hazardous substance through the issuance of voter-approved limited obligation bonds. The provisions of this section shall not affect or limit the provisions of any other law establishing the liability of any person for, or otherwise regulating, the generation, transportation, storage, treatment, or disposal of hazardous substances. The scope and standard of liability for any costs recoverable pursuant to Section 53314.7 shall be the scope and standard of liability set forth in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sec. 6901 et seq.), or any other provision of state or federal law establishing responsibility for cleanup of hazardous waste sites.
(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 175, Sec. 4. Effective June 26, 1990.)