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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 45Pt. 2Ch. 8Art. 1§ 79650 Cost Recovery For Cleanup Actions

§ 79650 Cost Recovery For Cleanup Actions

Health and Safety Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 79650 Cost Recovery For Cleanup Actions

Key Takeaways

  • •If the government has to clean up pollution or fix a problem, they can make the person who caused it pay for it.
  • •The government can ask for their money back in court, and they can add interest to the bill.
  • •If the person who caused the problem already paid some money back, they might not have to pay as much.
  • •Any money the government gets back goes into a special state account.

Example

A factory dumps bad chemicals into a river, and the government has to clean it up.

The government can make the factory pay for the cleanup, plus extra money (interest) for the trouble. If the factory already paid some money for the mess, they might pay less. The money the factory pays goes to the state.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 79650 Cost Recovery For Cleanup Actions

(a) A cost incurred by the department or regional board in carrying out or overseeing a response or a corrective action under this part or Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 20 shall be recoverable pursuant to state or federal law by the Attorney General, upon the request of the department or regional board, from the liable person. (b) The amount of response or corrective action costs incurred by the department or regional board shall be recoverable at the discretion of the department or regional board, either in a separate action or by way of intervention as of right in an action for contribution or indemnity. (c) The amount of any response or corrective action costs that may be recovered pursuant to this section shall include interest on any amount paid. (d) A person who is liable for response or corrective action costs incurred at a site shall have the liability reduced by any reimbursements that were paid by that person for that site pursuant to Section 79105. (e) Nothing in this section deprives a party of any defense that the party may have. (f) Moneys recovered by the Attorney General pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the state account. (Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 257, Sec. 2. (AB 2293) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, pursuant to Sec. 4 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 257.)

Last verified: January 24, 2026

Key Terms

indemnitypollutionliabilityenvironmentalcleanupthe stateattorney generaloperative january

Related Statutes

  • § 80685 Cleanup Loan Program Definition
  • § 79795 Hazardous Substance Cost Recovery
  • § 79860 Liability Transfer Restrictions
  • § 79890 Liability Release Exceptions
  • § 79895 Liability Release Conditions

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 79650.
View Official Source