Connecticut General Statutes Title 32. Commerce and Economic and Community Development § 32-764. Liability for pre-existing or existing conditions. Transfer of remediated brownfields

(a) Any recipient of a grant pursuant to subsection (b) of section 32-763 or subsection (c) of section 32-9cc of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2013, shall not be liable under section 22a-427, 22a-432, 22a-433, 22a-451 or 22a-452 for conditions pre-existing or existing on the brownfield property as of the date of acquisition or control, provided such recipient (1) did not establish, create, cause or contribute to the discharge, spillage, uncontrolled loss, seepage or filtration of such hazardous substance, material, waste or pollution that is subject to remediation under section 22a-133k and funded by the Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development or the Department of Economic and Community Development; (2) does not exacerbate the conditions; and (3) complies with reporting of significant environmental hazard requirements in section 22a-6u. To the extent that any conditions are exacerbated, such recipient shall only be responsible for responding to contamination exacerbated by its negligent or reckless activities.

(b) Upon remediation (1) as approved by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or (2) in accordance with section 22a-133x, 22a-134a, 32-768 or 32-769 of a brownfield property by a recipient of a grant pursuant to subsection (b) of section 32-763, such recipient may transfer the property to any person, provided such person is not otherwise liable under section 22a-427, 22a-432, 22a-433, 22a-451 or 22a-452 with respect to the property. Any person who acquires title pursuant to this section shall not be liable under section 22a-427, 22a-432, 22a-433, 22a-451 or 22a-452 with respect to preexisting conditions on the property, provided such person (A) does not cause or contribute to the discharge, spillage, uncontrolled loss, seepage or filtration of such hazardous substance, material or waste, and (B) such person is not a member, officer, manager, director, shareholder, subsidiary, successor of, related to, or affiliated with, directly or indirectly, the person who is otherwise liable under section 22a-427, 22a-432, 22a-433, 22a-451 or 22a-452 with respect to the property. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall provide such person with a covenant not to sue pursuant to section 22a-133aa and shall not require the prospective purchaser or owner to pay a fee in exchange for such covenant.

(c) No person shall acquire title to or hold, possess or maintain any interest in a property that has been remediated with grant funds awarded pursuant to subsection (b) of section 32-763 if such person (1) is liable under section 22a-427, 22a-432, 22a-433, 22a-451 or 22a-452 with respect to the property, (2) is otherwise responsible, directly or indirectly, for the discharge, spillage, uncontrolled loss, seepage or filtration of such hazardous substance, material or waste, (3) is a member, officer, manager, director, shareholder, subsidiary, successor of, related to, or affiliated with, directly or indirectly, the person who is otherwise liable under section 22a-427, 22a-432, 22a-433, 22a-451 or 22a-452 with respect to the property, or (4) is or was an owner, operator or tenant of the property. If such person elects to acquire title to or hold, possess or maintain any interest in the property, that person shall reimburse the state of Connecticut, the municipality and the economic development agency for any and all costs expended to perform the investigation and remediation of the property, plus interest at a rate of eighteen per cent.

(d) Notwithstanding section 22a-134a, a recipient of a grant pursuant to subsection (b) of section 32-763 may acquire and convey its interest in the property without such recipient or the subsequent purchaser incurring liability, including any such liability incurred pursuant to section 22a-134a, provided the property (1) was remediated pursuant to section 22a-133x, 22a-133y, 32-768 or 32-769 or pursuant to an order issued by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and such remediation was (A) performed in accordance with the standards adopted pursuant to section 22a-133k, as determined by said commissioner, or (B) if authorized by said commissioner, verified by a licensed environmental professional unless such verification has been rejected by said commissioner subsequent to an audit conducted by said commissioner and provided the subsequent purchaser has no direct or related liability for the site conditions; and (2) is not an establishment, as defined in section 22a-134, based on business operations occurring after such recipient remediated the property.