As used in this article:

1. (1) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Environmental Services.
2. (2) "Department" means the Department of Environmental Services.
3. (3) "Environmental Emergency" means a situation, to be determined by the director, that constitutes an immediate threat to the environment or public health, or both, and providing immediate, but temporary relief to the situation may require the expenditure of funds to effect a solution, provide temporary relief, or retain the services of appropriate technical personnel or contractors.
4. (4) "Fund" means the "Environmental Emergency Fund" established pursuant to this article.
5. (5) "Responsible party" means a person determined to be legally responsible for any environmental pollution or threat to public health which requires expenditures from the fund.

HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 282, SECTION 1; 2026 Act No. 146 (H.4189), SECTION 228, eff May 15, 2026.

Effect of Amendment

2026 Act No. 146, SECTION 228, rewrote (1); substituted "Department of Environmental Services" for "Department of Health and Environmental Control" in (2); and made a nonsubstantive change in (3).