The legislature finds that:
(1) real properties exist across the state where the stigma of hazardous substance and petroleum contamination hinders the development or best use of the property. These properties may be eligible for brownfields funding.
(2) the assessment and cleanup of hazardous substance and petroleum brownfields sites should be encouraged and facilitated to reduce threats to human health and the environment, prepare properties for reuse and redevelopment, and return property to the local tax rolls;
(3) the petroleum tank release cleanup fund established in 75-11-313 does not immediately address all petroleum tank release sites in Montana;
(4) not all sites impacted by hazardous substances are assessed or cleaned up by the Comprehensive Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act in chapter 10, part 7, of this title or the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq.