South Carolina § 44-2-80 - Release of regulated substance; containment, removal, and abatement.

§ 44-2-80. Release of regulated substance; containment, removal, and abatement.

(A) Any person who releases a regulated substance from an underground storage tank immediately shall undertake to contain, remove, and abate the release to the satisfaction of the department. However, the undertaking to contain, remove, or abate a release must not be considered an admission of responsibility for the release by the person taking the action. Notwithstanding this requirement, the department may undertake abatement measures and other site rehabilitation actions in response to a release and may contract and retain agents who shall operate under the discretion of the department if a responsible party is unwilling or unable to conduct site rehabilitation.

(B) The requirement to conduct site rehabilitation actions other than necessary abatement actions to eliminate any imminent threat to human health, safety, or the environment a release may pose, does not apply to a person who, without participating in the management of a petroleum or petroleum product underground storage tank and is otherwise not engaged in petroleum production, refining, and marketing, holds indicia of ownership primarily to protect that person's security interest in the tank. The indicia of ownership exemption includes persons who acquire title to the property through foreclosure or other means necessary to enforce the security interests and who, without participating in the management, are otherwise not engaged in petroleum production, refining, and marketing.

(C) A person who acquires title to any property on which an underground storage tank has been removed is not responsible for site rehabilitation actions other than necessary abatement actions to eliminate any imminent threat to human health, safety, or the environment. This exemption applies to the extent the release is eligible for compensation from the Superb Account if both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The person does not have or has not had any familial, financial, or related interest with the person who owned or operated the underground storage tanks that were previously in use at that property. The person must not be an affiliate of the owner or operator.

(2) The person allows for reasonable access by the underground storage tank owner or operator or the department to perform site rehabilitation activities.

HISTORY: 1988 Act No. 486, SECTION 2; 1995 Act No. 146, SECTION 8C; 1997 Act No. 88, SECTION 4.