§ 19-3-11 — Powers of Fiduciaries Regarding Environmental Laws Affecting Property Held by Fiduciary

(a) In addition to powers, remedies and rights which may be set forth in any will, trust agreement or other document which is the source of authority, a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, or one acting in any other fiduciary capacity, whether an individual, corporation or other entity (“fiduciary”) shall have the following powers, rights and remedies whether or not set forth in the will, trust agreement or other document which is the source of authority:
(1) To inspect, investigate or cause to be inspected and investigated, property held by the fiduciary, including interests in sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations and any assets owned by any such business enterprise, for the purpose of determining compliance with environmental law affecting such property and to respond to any actual or potential violation of any environmental law affecting property held by the fiduciary;
(2) To take, on behalf of the estate or trust, any action necessary to prevent, abate, or otherwise remedy any actual or potential violation of any environmental law affecting property held by the fiduciary, either before or after the initiation of an enforcement action by any governmental body;
(3) To refuse to accept property in trust if the fiduciary determines that any property to be donated or conveyed to the trust either is contaminated by any hazardous substance or is being used or has been used for any activity directly or indirectly involving any hazardous substance which could result in liability to the trust or otherwise impair the value of the assets held therein;
(4) To settle or compromise at any time any and all claims against the trust or estate which may be asserted by any governmental body or private party involving the alleged violation of any environmental law affecting property held in trust or in an estate;
(5) To disclaim any power granted by any document, statute, or rule of law which, in the sole discretion of the fiduciary, may cause the fiduciary to incur personal liability under any environmental law;
(6) To decline to serve as a fiduciary if the fiduciary reasonably believes that there is or may be a conflict of interest between the fiduciary in its or his fiduciary capacity and in its or his individual capacity because of potential claims or liabilities which may be asserted against the fiduciary on behalf of the trust or estate because of the type or condition of assets held therein.
(b) The fiduciary shall be entitled to charge the cost of any inspection, investigation, review, abatement, response, cleanup, or remedial action authorized herein against the income or principal of the trust or estate. A fiduciary shall not be personally liable to any beneficiary or other party for any decrease in value of assets in trust or in an estate by reason of the fiduciary’s compliance or efforts to comply with any environmental law, specifically including any reporting requirement under such law. Neither the acceptance by the fiduciary of property or a failure by the fiduciary to inspect or investigate property shall be deemed to create any inference as to whether or not there is or may be any liability under any environmental law with respect to such property.
(c) For purposes of this section, “environmental law” means any federal, state, or local law, rule, regulation, or ordinance relating to protection of the environment or human health. For purposes of this section, “hazardous substances” means any substance defined as hazardous or toxic or otherwise regulated by any environmental law.
(d) A fiduciary in its individual capacity shall not be considered an owner or operator of any property of the trust or estate for purposes of any environmental law.

Legislative History

(Acts 1990, No. 90-476, p. 696, §1.)