MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Conservation and Water Resources
By: Representative Scott
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF CONTAMINATION; TO REQUIRE NOTICE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES; TO REQUIRE CLEANUP OF CONTAMINATION; TO AUTHORIZE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO SEEK REDRESS FOR REMEDIAL MEASURES UNDERTAKEN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Whenever a complaint is filed with the Department of Environmental Quality about environmental contamination of water or soil, the Department of Environmental Quality shall investigate the complaint to determine if contamination exists and whether the contamination is toxic. If contamination exists, the Department of Environmental Quality shall notify the local governmental entity of the department's findings. If the problem is determined not to be the fault of the property owner, the local governmental entity must remove the contamination through any necessary remedial measures. The local governmental entity is authorized to seek redress from any person or entity that may have caused the problem if the party at fault can be determined.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.