- (a) The liability of a fiduciary under this title for the release or threatened release of petroleum at, from, or in connection with a petroleum facility held in a fiduciary capacity shall not exceed the assets held in the fiduciary capacity.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to the extent that a person is liable under this title independently of:
- (1) the person's ownership of the petroleum facility as a fiduciary; or
- (2) actions taken in a fiduciary capacity.
- (c) Subsections (a) and (d) do not limit the liability pertaining to a release or threatened release of petroleum if negligence of a fiduciary causes or contributes to the release or threatened release.
(d) A fiduciary is not liable in its personal capacity under this title for any of the following:
- (1) Undertaking or directing another person to undertake a response action under 42 U.S.C. 9607(d)(1) or under the direction of an on-scene coordinator designated under the National Contingency Plan.
- (2) Undertaking or directing another person to undertake other lawful means of addressing a hazardous substance in connection with the petroleum facility.
- (3) Terminating the fiduciary relationship.
- (4) Including in the terms of the fiduciary agreement a covenant, warranty, or other term or condition that relates to compliance with an environmental law, or monitoring, modifying, or enforcing the term or condition.
- (5) Monitoring or undertaking at least one (1) inspection of the petroleum facility.
- (6) Providing financial advice or other advice or counseling to other parties to the fiduciary relationship, including the settlor or beneficiary.
- (7) Restructuring, renegotiating, or otherwise altering the terms and conditions of the fiduciary relationship.
- (8) Administering, as a fiduciary, a vessel or facility that was contaminated before the fiduciary relationship began.
- (9) Declining to take any of the actions referred to in subdivisions
- (2) through (8).
(e) This section does not apply to a person if the person:
(1) acts in a capacity other than:
- (A) a fiduciary capacity; or
(B) a beneficiary capacity;
and, in that capacity, directly or indirectly benefits from a trust or fiduciary relationship; or
- (2) is a beneficiary and a fiduciary with respect to the same fiduciary estate and, as a fiduciary, receives benefits that exceed customary or reasonable compensation and incidental benefits permitted under other applicable law.
(f) This section does not preclude a claim against the assets of the estate or trust administered by:
- (1) the fiduciary; or
- (2) a nonemployee agent or independent contractor retained by a fiduciary.
(g) This section does not:
(1) affect the rights, immunities, or other defenses that are available under:
- (A) this title; or
- (B) other law that is applicable to a person subject to this chapter; or
(2) create:
- (A) any liability for a person; or
- (B) a private right of action against a fiduciary or any other person.
As added by P.L.90-1998, SEC.23.