§ 23-19.14-10. Settlement authorities.
(a) The state may, through June 30, 2007, enter into an agreement with any person to perform any response action if the state determines that that action will be done properly by the person. Whenever practicable and in the public interest as determined by the state, the state shall act to facilitate agreements under this section that are in the public interest and consistent with applicable laws and regulations in order to expedite effective remedial action and minimize litigation. The department of environmental management must be a party to any settlement agreement entered under the authority of the chapter. The department of environmental management shall not accept new proposals for settlement agreements after December 31, 2006; provided, however, that an amendment to a settlement agreement that was proposed prior to December 31, 2006, will not be considered a new settlement agreement.
(b) Whenever the state has entered into an agreement under this section, the liability to the state under this chapter of each party to the agreement including any future liability to the state, arising from the release or threatened release that is the subject of the agreement shall be limited as provided in the agreement pursuant to a covenant not to sue. The final covenant not to sue may, at the discretion of the state, be transferred to successors or assigns that are not otherwise found to be a responsible party under § 23-19.14-6. The covenant not to sue may provide that future liability to the state of a settling party under the agreement may be limited to the same proportion as that established in the original settlement agreement.
History of Section.P.L. 1995, ch. 187, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 250, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 275, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 23-19.14 - Industrial Property Remediation and Reuse Act
Section 23-19.14-1. - Legislative findings.
Section 23-19.14-2. - Declaration of policy.
Section 23-19.14-3. - Definitions.
Section 23-19.14-4. - Objectives of environmental clean-up.
Section 23-19.14-5. - Environmental equity and public participation.
Section 23-19.14-5.1. - Brownfields program and continuous improvement.
Section 23-19.14-5.2. - Entry of registered professional engineers onto certain property.
Section 23-19.14-6. - Liability for releases of hazardous materials.
Section 23-19.14-6.1. - Liability for releases of petroleum.
Section 23-19.14-7. - Exemptions to liability.
Section 23-19.14-7.1. - Remedial agreements.
Section 23-19.14-8. - Voluntary investigations and remedial actions.
Section 23-19.14-9. - Priority sites for economic development.
Section 23-19.14-10. - Settlement authorities.
Section 23-19.14-11. - Filing and public comment on settlement agreements.
Section 23-19.14-12. - Protection from contribution actions.
Section 23-19.14-13. - Authority to recover costs.
Section 23-19.14-14. - Windfall liens.
Section 23-19.14-15. - Notice and validity of liens.
Section 23-19.14-16. - Penalties for noncompliance.
Section 23-19.14-17. - Subrogation of authorities.