(a) Any person who is liable for a release, or threat of a release, of hazardous substances and who fails, without sufficient cause, as determined by the court, to properly provide a removal or remedial action upon either an order of the director, pursuant to Section 78870, or an order of the court, pursuant to Section 78660, is liable to the department for damages equal to three times the amount of any costs incurred by the state account pursuant to this part as a result of the failure to take proper action.
(b) No treble damages shall be imposed under this section against an owner of real property who did not generate, treat, transport, store, or dispose of any hazardous substance on, in, or at the facility located on that real property, as specified in Sections 101(35) and 107(b) of the federal act (42 U.S.C. Secs. 9601(35) and 9607(b)).