It is the purpose of this chapter to:
(1) create a voluntary pilot program by which the department may enter into not more than ten cooperative agreements with eligible participants to test and evaluate innovative environmental approaches to achieve superior environmental performance that are not otherwise authorized under existing South Carolina environmental law;
(2) encourage public participation and consensus among interested persons in the development of innovative environmental approaches and in monitoring the environmental performance of participants in the pilot program;
(3) determine whether innovative environmental approaches implemented through the pilot program result in environmental benefits such that changes in existing South Carolina law to allow these approaches are warranted;
(4) ensure that participants in the pilot program are of the highest caliber in environmental leadership and that innovative environmental approaches included in the cooperative agreements as well as any other environmental requirements applicable to the participants will be fully met.