§ 8-7-302 - Legislative findings. - Arkansas Statutes

8-7-302. Legislative findings.

The General Assembly of this state finds and it is declared that:

(1) The disposal of hazardous wastes, although currently necessary for certain forms of hazardous wastes, represents an inefficient use of natural resources and may present long-term threats to the environment and to the public health and safety;

(2) Technically and economically feasible treatment methods are becoming increasingly available and offer the advantages of complete destruction of these wastes or the recovery and reclamation of some, if not all, constituents of these wastes;

(3) In addition to the recovery or reclamation of natural resources, treatment of hazardous wastes reduces the volume of hazardous wastes which must be disposed of and thereby reduces the associated threats to the environment and to the public health and safety;

(4) Interstate cooperation is necessary to assure that the volume of hazardous wastes which must be disposed of within the state is reduced through a comprehensive program which encourages and, where appropriate, requires the treatment of hazardous wastes; and

(5) The Arkansas Hazardous Waste Management Act of 1979, 8-7-201 et seq., authorizes the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality to encourage the development of interstate agreements for the management of hazardous wastes and to enter into such agreements, with the concurrence of the Governor.