Section 39-7202 - LEGISLATIVE FINDINGSThe legislature hereby finds and declares:
(1) That it is the policy of the state of Idaho to provide for the protection of the public health, welfare, safety, and environment; and to foster the remediation, transfer, reuse, or redevelopment of sites or groups of sites based on the risk to human health and the environment where releases or threatened release of hazardous substances or petroleum exists. The minimization of risk to public health and the environment on a commercial and industrial site offers significant potential economic benefit to local communities and is vital to their use and reuse as sources of employment, housing, recreation and open-space areas.(2) That establishing a voluntary program for the remediation of hazardous substance or petroleum contaminated sites will encourage innovation and cooperation between the state, local communities, and interested persons and will promote the economic revitalization of property. It is intended that this program will provide for an expedited remediation process by eliminating the need for many adversarial enforcement actions and delays in remediation plan approvals.(3) That providing financial assistance to eligible property owners who conduct voluntary cleanups will promote the economic revitalization of property, particularly in rural communities, and will reduce or eliminate the need for many adversarial enforcement actions and delays in remediation plan approvals.[39-7202, added 1996, ch. 252, sec. 1, p. 796; am. 2006, ch. 308, sec. 1, p. 947.]