TCA § 68-212-201 — Legislative intent

In order to protect the public health, safety and welfare, and to provide a coordinated statewide hazardous substance management program, it is declared to be the policy of the state of Tennessee to: Provide a procedure for establishing appropriate sites for the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes; provided, that such procedures shall not be construed as a state override of local government jurisdiction; Provide funding for the operation of certain hazardous substance management programs by the state; Emphasize alternatives to land disposal of hazardous wastes, as is practicable; Provide for remedial action at certain inactive hazardous substance sites within the state; and Develop a comprehensive plan for hazardous substance site containment and clean up and to develop criteria for establishment of commercial facilities which qualify local governments to receive funds from the responsible waste disposal incentive fund. The general assembly declares that it is the policy of this state that, wherever feasible, the generation of hazardous waste is to be reduced or eliminated as expeditiously as possible. Waste that is nevertheless generated should, in order of priority, be reduced at its source, recovered and reused, recycled, treated, or disposed of so as to minimize the present and future threat to human health and the environment.