(a) Regulated substances hazardous to the public health, safety, welfare and the environment are stored in underground tanks in this state; and
(b) Underground tanks used for the storage of regulated substances are potential sources of contamination of the environment and may pose dangers to the public health, safety, welfare and the environment.
(2) Therefore, the Legislative Assembly declares:
(a) It is the public policy of this state to protect the public health, safety, welfare and the environment from the potential harmful effects of underground tanks used to store regulated substances.
(b) It is the purpose of ORS 466.706 to 466.882 and 466.994 to enable the Environmental Quality Commission to adopt a statewide program for the prevention and reporting of releases and for taking corrective action to protect the public and the environment from releases from underground storage tanks. [1987 c.539 §4 (enacted in lieu of 468.902); 1989 c.1071 §§21,26]