What is the purpose of innocent landowner immunity?

The purpose of innocent landowner immunity is to determine exemptions from environmental liability. This legal concept protects landowners from being held liable for contamination on their property if they were unaware of the contamination at the time of purchase and have not contributed to it. It recognizes that not all property owners have the same level of responsibility concerning environmental hazards and aims to encourage the purchase and development of contaminated properties without the fear of incurring unfair liability.

This immunity is a critical aspect of environmental law, as it helps facilitate real estate transactions and redevelopment efforts by ensuring that innocent parties can engage in property ownership without being penalized for the environmental failings of previous owners or others.