§ 72-0101. Declaration of policy.

The legislature of the state of New York hereby declares that
comprehensive environmental regulatory management programs are essential
to protect New York state's environmental resources and the public's
health and welfare. It further declares that those regulated entities
which use or have an impact on the state's environmental resources
should bear the costs of the regulatory provisions which permit the use
of these resources in a manner consistent with the environmental,
economic and social needs of the state. The legislature further declares
that regulatory fees are an appropriate mechanism to pay a portion of
the costs of the department's regulatory functions and programs and a
portion of the costs to fund the cleanup of inactive hazardous waste
disposal sites and that such fees should be borne by the state's
regulated entities in order to further strengthen the state's
capabilities to achieve its environmental quality objectives. The
legislature further declares that the department's regulatory programs
and corresponding costs vary according to certain relevant technical
criteria which shall be considered in determining adjustments to fees as
provided in this chapter.