§ 23-1703 — Legislative findings

§ 23-1703. Legislative findings.\n The legislature finds that it is necessary for the protection of the\npublic health, the environment and the economic welfare of the people of\nthis state to regulate and control the siting of liquefied natural and\npetroleum gas facilities in this state because of the hazards posed by\nliquefied natural and petroleum gas storage and transportation,\nparticularly in populated areas. The legislature finds that liquefied\nnatural and petroleum gas is an extremely volatile, highly flammable and\ndangerous substance which if released into the air is capable, under\nunfavorable atmospheric conditions, of causing severe damage even in\nareas distant from the point of release. The legislature further finds\nthat the use of imported and domestic liquefied natural and petroleum\ngas is increasing, making its regulation in the public interest\nessential; and requiring particular caution in its storage,\ntransportation, and conversion, to be carried out other than in\nresidential areas or in dangerous proximity to contiguous population,\nwith the imposition of strict liability in the handling thereof.\n It is the purpose of the legislature, subject to the provisions of\nthis act, that liquefied natural or petroleum gas facilities not be\nsited in residential areas, or in dangerous proximity to contiguous\npopulations, and that transportation of liquefied natural or petroleum\ngas be effected under maximum safeguards to protect such areas and\npopulations against possible catastrophic danger in the mishandling or\npossible escape thereof. Natural gas stored or transported at normal\ntemperatures, whether under pressure or otherwise, after conversion\nthereof from its super-cooled or cryogenic state as liquefied gas and\nliquefied petroleum gases in the form of butane, bottled gas, propane,\npropylene and butylene gas when stored or transported at their\nrespective normal temperatures are not subject to regulation under the\nprovisions of this act.\n