N.D. Cent. Code § 32-40.1-02: Third-party liability - Environmental damage

1.Except as preempted by federal law, a person may not be deemed to be an owner or operator of property who, without participating in the management of the property, holds indicia of ownership primarily to protect a security or lien hold interest in the property or in property in which the property is located.

2.A lender-owner or representative is not by virtue of becoming the owner of property liable for any third-party liability arising from contamination or pollution emanating from the property before the date the title vests in the lender-owner or representative. For the purposes of this section, the issuance of a sheriff's certificate of sale is not sufficient to vest title in the lender-owner or representative.

3.A lender-owner or representative is not by virtue of becoming the owner of property liable for any third-party liability arising from contamination or pollution emanating from the property during the period of ownership so long as, and to the extent that:

a.The lender-owner or representative does not knowingly cause new contamination or pollution or does not knowingly allow others to cause new contamination or pollution;

b.The lender-owner has, in good faith, caused an individual, including an officer or employee of the lender-owner, possessing the requisite knowledge and experience to conduct a visual inspection of the property to determine the presence and condition of hazardous wastes or substances and obvious contamination or pollution; and

c.The lender-owner found by the enforcing agency to be in noncompliance with federal or state laws takes steps to assure compliance with applicable laws.