For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (a) “Department” means the Department of Toxic Substances Control. (b) “Director” means the Director of Toxic Substances Control. (c) “Hazardous substance” means any hazardous substance as defined in subdivision (

h) of

Section 25281, and any reference to hazardous substance in the

definitions referenced in this

section shall be deemed to refer to hazardous substance, as defined in this subdivision. (d) “Local agency” means a single local agency that is one of the following:

(1) A local agency authorized pursuant to

Section to implement

Chapter 6.7 (commencing with

Section 25280) of, and

Chapter 6.75 (commencing with

Section 25299.10) of, Division 20.

(2) A local officer who is authorized pursuant to

Section to supervise a remedial action.

(3) An infrastructure and revitalization financing district created pursuant to

Chapter 2.6 (commencing with

Section 53369) or

Chapter 2.10 (commencing with

Section 53399) of Part of Division of Title of the Government Code. (e) “Qualified independent contractor” means an independent contractor who is any of the following:

(1) An engineering geologist who is certified pursuant to

Section of the Business and Professions Code.

(2) A geologist who is registered pursuant to

Section of the Business and Professions Code.

(3) A civil engineer who is registered pursuant to

Section of the Business and Professions Code. (f) “Release” means any release, as defined in subdivision (

a) of

Section 78105. (g) “Remedy” or “remove” means any action to assess, evaluate, investigate, monitor, remove, correct, clean up, or abate a release of a hazardous substance or to develop plans for those actions. “Remedy” includes any action set forth in

Section and “remove” includes any action set forth in

Section 78135. (h) “Responsible party” means any person described in subdivision (

a) of

Section of this code or subdivision (

a) of

Section of the Water Code.