Environmental

In Rhode Island, what is the 'innocent landowner' defense under environmental law?

AA defense allowing any property owner to avoid cleanup liability
BA defense available to owners who purchased property without knowledge of contamination after conducting appropriate due diligence✓ Correct
CA defense only available to first-time homebuyers
DA defense that permanently exempts property from environmental regulation

Explanation

The innocent landowner defense (under CERCLA/Superfund) protects buyers who conducted appropriate due diligence (typically a Phase I ESA) before purchase and did not know of the contamination from liability for pre-existing environmental problems.

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