California · Fish and Game Code - FGC

FGC §12016: (a) In addition to any other provision of law, any person who discharges or deposits any substance or material deleterious to fish, plant, bird, or animal life or their habitat into, or which threaten

What this law says, in plain English

It is unlawful to discharge or deposit substances harmful to fish, plants, birds, animals, or their habitats into water or areas that threaten them.

Read the full statutory text
(a) In addition to any other provision of law, any person who discharges or deposits any substance or material deleterious to fish, plant, bird, or animal life or their habitat into, or which threatens to enter, the waters of this state is liable civilly to the department for all actual damages to fish, plant, bird, or animal life or their habitat and, in addition, for the reasonable costs incurred in cleaning up the deleterious substance or material or abating its effects, or both. (b) For the purposes of this section, “deleterious substance or material” does not include substances or materials otherwise expressly permitted or authorized to be deposited or discharged into waters of the state by law.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.