§22C-5-2 Purpose and legislative findings.
§22C-5-2. Purpose and legislative findings.
(a) The purpose of this article is to establish a state commercial hazardous waste management facility siting board and to establish the procedure for which approval certificates are granted or denied for commercial hazardous waste management facilities.
(b) The Legislature finds that hazardous waste is generated throughout the state as a by-product of the materials used and consumed by individuals, businesses, enterprise and governmental units in the state, and that the proper management of hazardous waste is necessary to prevent adverse effects on the environment and to protect public health and safety. The Legislature further finds that:
(1) The availability of suitable facilities for the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste is necessary to protect the environment resources and preserve the economic strength of this state and to fulfill the diverse needs of its citizens;
(2) Whenever a site is proposed for the treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous waste, the nearby residents and the affected county and municipalities may have a variety of reasonable concerns regarding the location, design, construction, operation, closing and long-term care of facilities to be located at the site, the effect of the facility upon their community's economic development and environmental quality and the incorporation of such concerns into the siting process;
(3) Local authorities have the responsibility for promoting public health, safety, convenience and general welfare, encouraging planned and orderly land use development, recognizing the needs of industry and business, including solid waste disposal and the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste and that reasonable concerns of local authorities should be considered in the siting of commercial hazardous waste management facilities; and
(4) New procedures are needed to resolve many of the conflicts which arise during the process of siting commercial hazardous waste management facilities.