Oregon Statutes - Chapter 468B - Water Quality - Section 468B.060 - Liability for damage to fish or wildlife or habitat; agency to which damages payable.

(1) Where the injury, death, contamination or destruction of fish or other wildlife or injury or destruction of fish or wildlife habitat results from pollution or from any violation of the conditions set forth in any permit or of the orders or rules of the Environmental Quality Commission, the person responsible for the injury, death, contamination or destruction shall be strictly liable to the state for the value of the fish or wildlife so injured or destroyed and for all costs of restoring fish and wildlife production in the affected areas, including habitat restoration.

(2) In addition to the penalties provided for by law, the state may seek recovery of such damages in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state if the person responsible under subsection (1) of this section fails or refuses to pay for the value of the fish or wildlife so destroyed and for all costs of restoring fish and wildlife production in the affected areas, including habitat restoration, within a period of 60 days from the date of mailing by registered or certified mail of written demand therefor.

(3) Any action or suit for the recovery of damages described in subsection (1) of this section shall be brought in the name of the State of Oregon upon relation of the Department of Environmental Quality or State Department of Fish and Wildlife or the Attorney General. Amounts recovered under this section shall be paid to the state agency having jurisdiction over the fish or wildlife or fish or wildlife production for which damages were recovered. [Formerly 449.103 and then 468.745]

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Last modified: August 7, 2008