DE SB198

Adds comprehensive definitions for "fiduciary," "lender," "security interest," and related terms to clarify liability protections for banks, trustees, executors, and other financial entities holding contaminated properties as collateral or in trust

Protects lenders from environmental cleanup liability if they hold security interests without "participating in management" of the facility, defining participation narrowly as exercising decision-making control over environmental compliance or day-to-day operations

Shields fiduciaries from personal liability for contaminated properties they administer, limiting their exposure to assets held in the fiduciary capacity, provided they did not cause the contamination through negligence

Allows the Department to issue cleanup orders to potentially responsible parties without holding a prior public hearing, but requires written notice and permits parties to request a hearing within 30 days

Authorizes direct payments from the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Fund to certified environmental consultants who perform remedial work, rather than requiring reimbursement through the property developer