The ground and surface waters of the State are an essential and significant portion of the natural resources of the State historically protected by State programs. Significant contamination of these natural resources and hazard to the public health results from the failure of aboveground storage tanks and underground facilities for the storage and handling of petroleum liquids, related sludges, and other chemicals. It is the purpose of this chapter to prevent ground and surface water contamination from these facilities by authorizing the establishment of State standards and criteria for the design, installation, operation, maintenance, and monitoring of underground liquid storage facilities. It is the intent of this chapter to provide authority to the Secretary to enable the Secretary to operate a program consistent with or more stringent than that contained in Title VI of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984. (Added 1985, No. 66, § 1; amended 1997, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 23, 1998.)