(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, no person who upon request provides assistance or advice in mitigating or attempting to mitigate the effects of an actual or threatened discharge of hazardous
materials or in preventing, or in attempting to prevent, such a discharge shall be subject to civil liabilities or penalties of any type.
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect the liability of any person for damages or other civil liabilities or penalties of any type resulting from such person’s gross negligence or from such person’s reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct.
(c) Nothing in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect the liability for damages or other civil or criminal liabilities or penalties of any type of any person whose conduct caused in whole or in part or contributed to such actual or threatened discharge of hazardous material.
(d) Nothing in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect the liability of any person for civil or criminal liabilities or penalties pursuant to Part 1 of Article 3 of this chapter or the legal responsibility of any person to comply with Part 1 of Article 3 of this chapter.
(e) Nothing in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect the liability for damages or other civil or criminal liabilities or penalties of any person, as defined in this article, who receives or expects to receive compensation or any pecuniary benefit, directly or indirectly, from any source, other than reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for services in rendering such assistance or advice.