N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 71-2109

§ 71-2109. Emergencies excepted.\n The civil liabilities which shall be imposed pursuant to the\nprovisions of this title upon persons violating the provisions of any\ncode, rule or regulation shall not be so construed as to include any\nviolation which was caused by an act of God, war, strike, riot,\ncatastrophe or other condition as to which negligence or willful\nmisconduct on the part of such person was not the proximate cause.\n