(a) Any costs or damages incurred by the department under this article constitute a lien upon the real property owned by any responsible party that is subject to the remedial action. The lien shall attach regardless of whether the responsible party is insolvent. A lien imposed under this section shall arise at the time costs are first incurred by the department with respect to a remedial action at the site.

(b) A lien established under this section shall be subject to the notice and hearing procedures required by due process of the law. Prior to imposing the lien, the department shall send the property owner via certified mail a “Notice of Intent to Place A Lien” letter. This letter shall provide that the owner, within 14 calendar days from the date of receipt of the letter, may object to the imposition of the lien either in writing or through an informal proceeding before a neutral official. This neutral official shall be the director or his or her designee, who may not have had any prior involvement with the site. The issue before the neutral official shall be whether the department has a reasonable basis for its determination that the statutory elements for lien placement under this section are satisfied. During this proceeding the property owner may present information or submit documents, or both, to establish that the department should not place a lien as proposed. The neutral official shall ensure that a record of the proceeding is made, and shall issue a written decision. The decision shall state whether the property owner has established any issue of fact or law to alter the department’s intention to file a lien, and the basis for the decision.

(c) The department may not be considered a responsible party for a remediated site merely because a lien is imposed under this section.

(d) A lien imposed under this section shall continue until the liability for the costs or damages incurred under this article, or a judgment against the responsible party, is satisfied. However, if it is determined by a court that the judgment against the responsible party will not be satisfied, the department may exercise its rights under the lien.

(e) A lien imposed under this section shall have the force and effect of, and the priority of, a judgment lien upon its recordation in the county in which the property subject to the lien is located. The lien shall contain a legal description of the real property that is subject to, or affected by, the remedial action, the assessor’s parcel number, and the name of the owner of record, as shown on the latest equalized assessment roll.

(f) All funds recovered under this section on behalf of the department’s waste tire stabilization and abatement program shall be deposited in the California Tire Recycling Management Fund established under Section 42885.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 534, Sec. 6. (AB 1647) Effective January 1, 2013.)