California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 78110

A “release authorized or permitted pursuant to state law” means any release into the environment that is authorized by statute, ordinance, regulation, or rule of any state, regional, or local agency or government or by any specific permit, license, or similar authorization from such an agency, including one of the foregoing, that recognizes a standard industry practice, including variances obtained from the agency that allow operations for facilities during a period of time when releases from the facilities do not conform with relevant statutes, ordinances, regulations, or rules. The term includes a federally permitted release, as defined by Section 78070, and releases that are in accordance with any court order or consent decree.