Section 23-1707. Environmental safety permit; siting

No  person  shall commence the preparation of a site for, or begin the
  construction of,  a  liquefied  natural  or  petroleum  gas  storage  or
  conversion  facility  in  the  state  without  having  first obtained an
  environmental safety permit issued with  respect  to  such  facility  or
  activity  by  the commissioner pursuant to this title. Any such facility
  with respect to which a permit is issued shall not thereafter be  built,
  maintained  or  operated,  and any such activity with respect to which a
  permit is issued, shall not be carried out, except  in  conformity  with
  such  permit and any terms, limitations or conditions contained therein;
  provided that nothing herein shall exempt such facility from  compliance
  with  state  law  and  regulations thereunder or with municipal laws and
  regulations thereunder not inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  such
  permit.  A  permit  may  be  transferred, subject to the approval of the
  commissioner,  to  a  person  who  agrees  to  comply  with  the  terms,
  limitations  and  conditions  contained  therein. This section shall not
  apply to a liquefied natural or  petroleum  gas  storage  or  conversion
  facility  in  actual  use  and  operation  on  September first, nineteen
  hundred seventy-six.