The Legislature finds and declares that the proper treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous waste generated in this State is today the exception, rather than the rule; that the improper treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous waste results in substantial impairment of the environment and the public health; that insuring the proper treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous waste is a public purpose in the best interests of all citizens of this State; and that the only way to accomplish this purpose is to provide for the siting, design, construction, operation and use of environmentally acceptable major hazardous waste facilities.

The Legislature further finds and declares that certain environmentally sensitive areas must be preserved and therefore excluded from consideration as sites for any major hazardous waste facilities because the risk of irreversible ecological damage, despite the application of sound engineering practices, is too great to be tolerated.

The Legislature further finds and declares that the choice of hazardous waste disposal sites is now made, all too frequently, on an indiscriminate and illegal basis; that it is necessary to establish a mechanism for the rational siting of hazardous waste facilities; that the informed participation of the public and of elected and appointed officials at all levels of government is essential to establish this mechanism; that the proper siting, design, construction, operation and use of major hazardous waste facilities must be provided in a timely fashion; that these facilities should be totally or partially constructed above existing grade and physically accessible to inspection personnel, unless such construction is technologically or economically impracticable and the hazardous waste to be treated, stored or disposed of therein can be effectively monitored; and that major hazardous waste facilities should be privately operated and subject to strict governmental regulation, all as hereinafter provided.

L.1981, c. 279, s. 2, eff. Sept. 10, 1981.