4. The discharge of hazardous substances is prohibited. This section shall not apply to discharges of hazardous substances pursuant to and in compliance with the conditions of a Federal or State permit, or to any discharge of petroleum to the surface waters of the State that occurs as a result of the process of recovering, containing, cleaning up or removing a discharge of petroleum in the surface waters of the State and that is undertaken in compliance with the instructions of a federal on-scene coordinator or of the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee .

L.1976,c.141,s.4; amended 1995,c.16,s.2.