The Legislature finds and declares that millions of gallons of gasoline and other hazardous substances are stored prior to use or disposal, in underground storage tanks; that a significant percentage of these underground storage tanks are leaking due to corrosion or structural defect; that this leakage of hazardous substances from underground storage tanks is among the most common causes of groundwater pollution in the State; and that it is thus necessary to provide for the registration and the systematic testing and monitoring of underground storage tanks to detect leaks and discharges as early as possible and thus minimize further degradation of potable water supplies. The Legislature further finds and declares that with the enactment by the United States Congress of the “Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984,” Pub.L. 98-616 (42 U.S.C. § 6991) it is necessary to authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt a regulatory program that permits the delegation of the authority to carry out the federal act, but also recognizes the need of this State to protect its natural resources in the manner consistent with well-established environmental principles.

L. 1986, c. 102, s. 1, eff. Sept. 3, 1986.