(1) The legislature, mindful of its constitutional obligations under Article II, section 3, and Article IX of the Montana constitution, has enacted the Montana Underground Storage Tank Act. It is the legislature's intent that the requirements of this part provide adequate remedies for the protection of the environmental life support system from degradation and provide adequate remedies to prevent unreasonable depletion and degradation of natural resources.
(2) The legislature finds that petroleum products and hazardous substances stored in underground tanks are regulated under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, and must be addressed and controlled properly by the state under this part. It is the purpose of this part to authorize the department to establish, administer, and enforce an underground storage tank leak prevention program for these regulated substances. The department may use the authority provided in this part and other appropriate authority provided by law to remedy violations of requirements established under this part.