25100-25106
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 25100-25106
25100. The Legislature finds that: (a) Increasing quantities of hazardous wastes are being generated in the state, for which the generators of the hazardous waste must provide safe disposal. (b) Long-term threats to public health and to air and water quality are posed by the landfill disposal of many types of untreated hazardous wastes and by the inappropriate handling, storage, use, and disposal of hazardous wastes. (c) Extensive technology exists for the safe treatment, neutralization, and destruction of many types of hazardous wastes prior to disposal. (d) Numerous opportunities exist to reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated in the state and to conserve resources through the application of existing source reduction and recycling technology. (e) The people of the state face immense costs as a result of improper hazardous waste handling and disposal practices. 25101. The Legislature therefore declares that: (a) In order to protect the public health and the environment and to conserve natural resources, it is in the public interest to establish regulations and incentives which ensure that the generators of hazardous waste employ technology and management practices for the safe handling, treatment, recycling, and destruction of their hazardous wastes prior to disposal. (b) In order to assist the generators of hazardous waste in meeting the responsibility for the safe disposal of hazardous waste it is necessary to establish the Hazardous Waste Management Council. (c) The Legislature further declares that in order to protect the public of this state and particularly the communities where hazardous wastes are treated and disposed, it is essential to assure full compensation of all people injured or damaged by hazardous wastes. It is therefore necessary that the Hazardous Waste Management Council, created pursuant to Section 25206, make recommendations regarding a system of insurance and mechanisms establishing liability to achieve this result, as required by subdivision (e) of Section 25208. (d) It is in the best interest of the health and safety of the people of the State of California for the state to obtain and maintain authorization to administer a state hazardous waste program in lieu of the federal program pursuant to Section 3006 of Public Law 94-580, as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6926). Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that the director shall have those powers necessary to secure and maintain interim and final authorization for the state hazardous waste program pursuant to the requirements of Section 3006 of Public Law 94-580, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6926), and to implement such program in lieu of the federal program. 25103. The Legislature has found that access by the people of this state to public records is a fundamental and necessary right. The Legislature finds that it is necessary to further the public's right of access to public records pertaining to hazardous waste management, information, and cleanup, to assure the fullest opportunity for public participation in permitting and other decisions in order to protect public health and the environment. 25105. No provision of this chapter shall limit the authority of any state or local agency in the enforcement or administration of any provision of law which it is specifically permitted or required to enforce and administer. 25106. Except as expressly provided by statute, this chapter does not supersede or modify Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.