Senate Bill 2070 Summary

• Establishes comprehensive regulated substance response framework including definitions, liability standards, and corrective action procedures for environmental contamination in North Dakota.

• Creates continuing appropriation for the environmental quality restoration fund, which receives recovered moneys from environmental violations, donations, federal agencies, and abandoned oil/gas well plugging transfers.

• Prohibits release of regulated substances except those permitted under federal or state environmental permits, with department authority to identify responsible parties and recover costs through civil action.

• Provides liability protection for property owners and developers who conduct voluntary cleanup actions under department-approved agreements, with exceptions for fraud, misrepresentation, or failure to disclose material information.

• Allows county commissioners, city governing bodies, and township supervisors to establish institutional controls and zoning regulations addressing environmental concerns in coordination with the Department of Environmental Quality, with retroactive application of the act.