The Legislature finds and determines that the ocean off the coast of the State is being used increasingly for the disposal of wastes, including sewage sludge, industrial wastes and dredged spoils; that ocean-dumped wastes contain materials which may have adverse effects on the public health, safety, and welfare; that many of these materials are toxic to human and marine life, and are damaging to the fish population and the food chain supporting all life including man, as well as to other valuable natural and economic resources; and that therefore the State must regulate and control this practice and encourage the development and utilization of advanced methods of waste disposal which do not utilize the ocean as the repository for harmful materials.

L.1971, c. 177, s. 2, eff. June 1, 1971.