Sec. 8. (a) Except where an owner or operator can prove that a release from an underground storage tank was caused solely by:

(1) an act of God;

(2) an act of war;

(3) negligence on the part of the state or the United States government; or

(4) any combination of the causes set forth in subdivisions (1) through (3);

the owner or operator of an underground storage tank is liable to the state for the actual costs of any corrective action taken under section 2 of this chapter or IC 13-7-20-19(b) (before its repeal) involving the underground storage tank and is responsible for undertaking any corrective action, including undertaking an exposure assessment, ordered under this chapter, IC 13-23-14-1, IC 13-7-20-19 (before its repeal), or IC 13-7-20-26 (before its repeal), or required by this title or a rule adopted under this title.

(b) A person who:

(1) pays to the state the costs described under subsection (a); or

(2) undertakes corrective action resulting from a release from an underground storage tank, regardless of whether the corrective action is undertaken voluntarily or under an order issued under this chapter, IC 13-23-14-1, IC 13-7-20-19 (before its repeal), or IC 13-7-20-26 (before its repeal);

is entitled to receive a contribution from a person who owned or operated the underground storage tank at the time the release occurred. A person who brings a successful action to receive a contribution from an owner or operator is also entitled to receive reasonable attorney's fees and court costs from the owner or operator. An action brought under this subsection may be brought in a circuit or superior court. In resolving a contribution claim, a court may allocate the cost of a corrective action among the parties to the action using equitable factors that the court determines are appropriate.

(c) Money recovered by the state under this section in connection with any corrective action undertaken with respect to a release of petroleum shall be deposited in the petroleum trust fund.

(d) Money recovered by the state under this section in connection with any corrective action undertaken with respect to a release of a regulated substance other than petroleum shall be deposited in the hazardous substances response trust fund.

(e) The state may recover corrective action costs under this section in an action commenced under IC 13-14-2-6, IC 13-14-2-7, IC 13-7-5-7 (before its repeal), or IC 13-7-5-8 (before its repeal). An action to recover corrective action costs under this section may be combined, as appropriate, with an action to enforce an order issued under section 1 of this chapter or IC 13-7-20-19(a) (before its repeal) to require corrective action not already undertaken by the commissioner.

[Pre-1996 Recodification Citation: 13-7-20-21.]

As added by P.L.1-1996, SEC.13.