(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that the existence of uranium mill tailings at active and inactive mill operations poses a potential and significant radiation health hazard. This part 3 is therefore enacted to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by cooperating with the federal government in providing for the stabilization, disposal, and control of such tailings in a safe and environmentally sound manner to prevent or minimize other environmental impacts from such tailings.
(2) The general assembly recognizes the need for the state to expend such funds as are necessary to provide land annotation and site information for purposes of protecting prospective purchasers or users of mill sites designated for cleanup pursuant to public law 95-604. The general assembly therefore declares its intent to assist local governments with the identification, removal, storage, and disposal of tailing deposits associated with such designated mill sites for which remedial action is not taken pursuant to the federal "Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978".
Source: L. 79: Entire part added, p. 1069, § 1, effective January 1, 1980. L. 97: Entire section amended, p. 337, § 2, effective April 16.