N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 17-1001

§ 17-1001. Legislative findings and declarations.\n The legislature finds and declares that the lands and waters of New\nYork state constitute an irreplaceable resource upon which is founded\nthe well-being of public health, economic vitality and the state's\nenvironment; that these resources may be contaminated by spills and\nleaks of petroleum from active and abandoned petroleum bulk storage\nfacilities; that once contaminated the quality of these resources cannot\nbe completely restored to their original state; and that contamination\nof these resources must be prevented through improved safeguards in\nstorage and handling.\n The legislature declares these spills and leaks to be a threat to the\npublic welfare of the state and hereby exercises the power of the state\nto prevent these spills and leaks from occurring through the\nestablishment of a state petroleum bulk storage code for new and\nsubstantially modified facilities.\n