The General Assembly finds that improper management of hazardous wastes has contaminated the water, soil and air of the state thereby threatening the health and safety of Connecticut citizens; that the economic benefits to the state from industry are jeopardized if hazardous waste disposal facilities are not available in Connecticut; that the safe management of hazardous wastes, including state involvement, is mandated by the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (42 USC 6901 et seq.) and implementing regulations; that the siting of hazardous waste disposal facilities is in the best interest of Connecticut’s citizens and that the public should participate in siting decisions. Therefore the General Assembly declares that it is the policy of the state to initiate final remedial action by the year 2000 at each hazardous waste disposal site listed on July 3, 1989, on the inventory maintained by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to § 22a-133c and to assure the siting of hazardous waste disposal facilities so that the health and safety of Connecticut’s citizens and the environmental and economic interests of the state are protected. The purpose of this chapter is to establish a process for the siting of hazardous waste facilities that will protect the health and safety of Connecticut citizens and assure responsible economic development and to have that siting process be at least as strict as that required by federal law.