(a) The costs of cleanup may result in economic hardship or bankruptcy for individuals and businesses that are otherwise financially viable;
(b) These persons may be willing to clean up their sites and pay the associated costs; however, financial assistance from private lenders may not be available to pay for the cleanup; and
(c) It is in the interest of the public health, safety, welfare and the environment to establish a program of financial assistance for cleanups, to help individuals and businesses maintain financial viability, increasing the share of cleanup costs paid by responsible persons and ultimately decreasing amounts paid from state funds.
(2) Therefore, the Legislative Assembly declares that it is the intent of ORS 465.265 to 465.310:
(a) To assure that moneys for financial assistance are available on a continuing basis consistent with the length and terms provided by the financial assistance agreements; and
(b) To provide authority to the Department of Environmental Quality to develop and implement innovative approaches to financial assistance for cleanups conducted under ORS 465.200 to 465.545 or, at the discretion of the department, under other applicable authorities. [1989 c.833 §102]