California Health and Safety Code

§ 78660

HSC § 78660 Effective Jan 1, 2023Div. 45 · Part 2 · Ch. 4 · Art. 1

Statute text

(a)Whenever there is a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance, the director may request the Attorney General to secure relief as may be necessary from the responsible party to abate the release or threatened release. The superior court of the county in which the release or threatened release occurs has jurisdiction to grant the relief that the public interest and equities of the case may require to protect the public health and safety and the environment. Upon a showing by the department that a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance has occurred or is occurring, and that there may be an imminent or substantial endangerment to the public health and safety or to the environment, the court may grant a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction.

(b)Upon the failure of any person to comply with any order issued by the department pursuant to this article, Section 78870, or Section 79055, the director may request the Attorney General to petition the superior court for the issuance of an injunction requiring that person to comply with the order. The superior court shall have jurisdiction to grant a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction.

(c)In any civil action brought pursuant to this part in which a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction is sought, the department shall prove that the defendant is a responsible party and that there is a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance. It shall not be necessary to allege or prove at any stage of the proceeding that irreparable damage will occur should the temporary restraining order or the preliminary or permanent injunction not be issued, or that the remedy at law is inadequate. The temporary restraining order or the preliminary or permanent injunction shall issue without those allegations and without that proof.

Legislative history

Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 257, Sec. 2. (AB 2293) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, pursuant to Sec. 4 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 257.