Sec. 10. (a) The commissioner may proceed in the appropriate court to recover costs and damages for which a responsible person is liable to the state under any of the following:
(1) Section 107 of CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 9607).
(2) Section 8 of this chapter.
(3) This section.
(b) In addition to the recovery allowed under subsection (a) and the civil penalty provisions of IC 13-30-4-1 and IC 13-30-4-2, a person that:
(1) is liable for a release or threat of release of a hazardous substance; and
(2) fails, without sufficient cause, to properly provide removal or remedial action upon order of a court under section 9 of this chapter;
is liable for punitive damages.
(c) The commissioner may commence a civil action against a person described in subsection (b) to recover punitive damages. In the action, the commissioner may seek and the court may grant an award of punitive damages against a person described in subsection (b) for up to three hundred percent (300%) of the total costs incurred by the department as a result of that person's failure to properly provide removal or remedial action upon the order of a court. However, any recovery in the action is subject to offset by the amount of any civil penalty paid by the person under IC 13-30-4-1 and IC 13-30-4-2 based upon the release, the threatened release, or the person's failure to properly provide removal or remedial action.
(d) Costs, damages, and punitive damages awarded under this section shall be deposited in the fund.
[Pre-1996 Recodification Citation: 13-7-8.7-10.]
As added by P.L.1-1996, SEC.15.
Structure Indiana Code
Article 25. Hazardous Substances
Chapter 4. Hazardous Substances Response Trust Fund
13-25-4-0.2. Application of Certain Amendments to Prior Law
13-25-4-1. Establishment; Purpose
13-25-4-4. Annual Budget; Expenditures; Household Hazardous Waste Grants
13-25-4-5. Corrective Action Determination; Access to Records
13-25-4-6. Entry for Inspection by Agent; Reasonable Promptness; Samples
13-25-4-8. Liability of a Person to the State; Exceptions; Presumptions Concerning Releases
13-25-4-8.2. Lenders Considered to Participate in Management
13-25-4-8.4. Limits on Liability of Fiduciaries
13-25-4-9. Court Actions by Commissioner; Administrative Orders
13-25-4-10. Actions to Recover Costs and Damages; Punitive Damages; Deposit of Recovery
13-25-4-13. Lien; Notification of Owner
13-25-4-15. Lien; Discharge; Release
13-25-4-16. Lien; Release; Recording
13-25-4-17. Lien; Discharge and Satisfaction
13-25-4-19. Notice of Intent to Impose Lien
13-25-4-20. Request for and Conduct of Hearing
13-25-4-21. Effect of Request for Hearing
13-25-4-22. Retrieval of Copy of Written Notice From County Recorder
13-25-4-23. Agreements for Removal and Remedial Action
13-25-4-24. Contaminated Property; Restrictive Covenants
13-25-4-26. Removal or Remedial Actions; State or Local Permit
13-25-4-27. Action or Claims; Effect of Chapter; Immunity for Liability for Claims or Contributions