1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, an environmental audit conducted pursuant to the provisions of NRS 445C.010 to 445C.120, inclusive, shall be deemed privileged and is not admissible in an administrative proceeding or civil action against the regulated person who conducted the audit or the regulated facility which is owned or operated by the regulated person.
2. The privilege provided by subsection 1 does not apply if:
(a) A regulatory agency requests the admission of the results of an environmental audit at an administrative proceeding or civil action commenced by the regulatory agency;
(b) The regulated person expressly waives the privilege; or
(c) A court or administrative hearing officer determines in camera that the presumption against administrative or civil liability is rebutted pursuant to NRS 445C.090.
3. For the purposes of paragraph (b) of subsection 2, a regulated person does not waive the privilege if he or she voluntarily discloses, pursuant to NRS 445C.010 to 445C.120, inclusive, the results of an environmental audit or a violation of an environmental requirement discovered as a result of an environmental audit to a regulatory agency.
4. This section does not prohibit a person or entity from:
(a) Obtaining information concerning a violation of an environmental requirement from a source independent of an environmental audit.
(b) Commencing an administrative proceeding or civil or criminal action against a regulated person or a regulated facility which is owned or operated by a regulated person based upon information that was obtained from a source independent of an environmental audit.
(c) Intervening in a proceeding or action filed against a regulated person or regulated facility if the intervention is specifically authorized by statute or regulation.
(Added to NRS by 1997, 1077; A 2015, 3607)
Structure Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 445C - Environmental Requirements; Cleanup of Discharged Petroleum
NRS 445C.020 - "Environmental audit" defined.
NRS 445C.030 - "Environmental requirement" defined.
NRS 445C.040 - "Regulated facility" defined.
NRS 445C.050 - "Regulated person" defined.
NRS 445C.060 - "Regulatory agency" defined.
NRS 445C.100 - Administrative or civil proceedings for violation: Burdens of proof.
NRS 445C.110 - Environmental audit: Privileged; exceptions.
NRS 445C.160 - "Board" defined.
NRS 445C.170 - "Department" defined.
NRS 445C.180 - "Diesel fuel of grade number 1" defined.
NRS 445C.190 - "Diesel fuel of grade number 2" defined.
NRS 445C.200 - "Discharge" defined.
NRS 445C.210 - "Division" defined.
NRS 445C.220 - "Fund" defined.
NRS 445C.230 - "Heating oil" defined.
NRS 445C.240 - "Motor vehicle fuel" defined.
NRS 445C.250 - "Operator" defined.
NRS 445C.260 - "Person" defined.
NRS 445C.270 - "Petroleum" defined.
NRS 445C.280 - "Storage tank" defined.
NRS 445C.290 - Legislative findings.
NRS 445C.350 - Transfer of portion of ending balance in Fund to certain accounts.
NRS 445C.400 - Pro rata reduction if balance of Fund insufficient for full payment.
NRS 445C.410 - Storage tanks exempted from certain provisions; optional coverage of exempted tank.